Madchook Posted March 6, 2010 Share Posted March 6, 2010 Does anyone keep their chooks on rubber? I have been planning my new pens and had planned on putting down weed matting and rubber chips with the hope that I will be able to blast poo through it with the hose (esp in summer to cut down flies - the most chooks I have had at one time is 6 and on grass / dirt the flies were a pain last yr) -but I will have more this time as am going to raise table birds too so I need to make it managable. I had heard this recommended last year so just wondered if anyone could confirm it works? Many thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 6, 2010 Share Posted March 6, 2010 Someone else posted on this in the Eglu section recently, not sure if they had many replies Most accounts I have heard about rubber chippings is that the poo sticks to them and they end up a big poo-ey mess after a while, the ground under them mst be exceptionally well drained for them to stand any chance of working With maybe one or two exceotions the good reports I have heard are either where someone has only just started to use them and all is well or from one of the people who sells them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted March 6, 2010 Author Share Posted March 6, 2010 Ahhh.... I know Alison recommended them on the course (but she sells them too ). Maybe I will experiment with one of the small pens then - I guess I could put sharp sand under the matting to help drainage. Thanks for your help Tasha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted March 6, 2010 Share Posted March 6, 2010 The thread Tasha referred to I don't think I'd use them, the grass mats look good though, would have the same effect, but be even easier to clean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted March 7, 2010 Author Share Posted March 7, 2010 Thanks Lewis. I just ordered one of those mats -ebay for 14.99 for 3ft by 5ft. Worth a go hey, even if I just use it for my dinner growers. Will have to see how it goes though as I am not sure if it will stifle their scratching instinct too much. Obviously the idea is the grass grows through which would be fab - but in my experience grass is shawn off pretty quickly which will leave them on the rubber which they can't scratch. But it is worth a go for that price - do you know of anyone that uses these? Thanks again Maddy xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 They had a couple of similar ones at the farm but they were on wood bark - no grass left there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirstyfern Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 I use wood chips as you can compost them, I wouldn't use rubber - where can you dispose of it when it is covered in chicken poo? I've looked at the ground mats but they are expensive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
