Ammonia smell in coop-first time owner

[Smiler33]

We've just put chips down for the girls but I noticed my hands are stained red (the only ones they had was terracotta, so no choice but to go for it). Are the chickens OK with dyed chips? It felt horrible and damp when I put it down and I wished I'd gone for the Aubiose but you live and learn don't you.

 

Also, how deep does it need to be? I thought once they go to bed I'll give it a rakeover to level it up again (they've got to the grass). We used 1 bale of it (100 litres) under in the Cube run.

 

Thanks!

[Plum]

I used woodchip to begin with and can't answer about the dye. The woodchip was wet when it went down but it contained lots of lovely bugs the girls loved.

How deep? Deep as you like, I went a bit mad and put 4 bags from B&Q in so it was nearly up to the steps but it lasted ages. I put some border edging round the cube to stop them kicking it out.

[Redwing]

Give it a few rakes over in the coming days and it will dry out quite a bit

 

As Plum says as deep as you like, one or two inches will do it

 

The sye should be plant friendly so should be pet friendly, chooks might get red tums and feet though

[Plum]

You'll have to post a pic of Peckish and Tikka