Donald Duck Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Hi I'm really interested in keeping chickens in my back garden but I don't have any grass in it. I am looking to buy an Eglu cube and run and was wondering if I need grass to put the run on or would I be able to take up some on the slabs and lay a covering of bark or something similar. I'm assuming hens need to be able to scratch about and obviously wouldn't be able to do that on a solid slabbed area. Sorry if this seems a daft question but I am a total novice to hen keeping. Thanks Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 (edited) Many of us have solid floors for our chicken runs (I have a solid floor in my walk in run). As long as they are able to scratch around they will be fine. Wood chips would do the job great The one thing I would say is that as they won't have grass to eat, you will need to supplement their diet with fresh greens. Mine love a cabbage or some broccoli Edited March 20, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 You can put the run straight on the slabs, add a 'skirting board' to it to keep bedding in then use wood chips in the run, they dont need soil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 grass want last long in a run so no you want need grass bark isn't used in runs as it can contain fungus spores which can cause chickhens breathing problems but that said I think some people use it with out any problems I've got a couple of barked areas in the garden which my lot love as thats were most of the insect life is.I use a wood chip horse bedding in the run. as for slabs you can lift them or leave them down and put a deep layer of bedding down or just take the middle ones out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 My girls don't have any access to my grass at all. They have flowerbeds when freeranging and soil/Easibed in their run. They don't seem to suffer (although given a chance they're straight onto the lawn .) I don't give them greens as a rule (they ignore them ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerryegg Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 My two had a beautifully grassed wIR.....................for about a week.Even ate a large sedum I had been growing for years and everything they could reach through the wire including my mint. Now mud and lots of veg s"Ooops, word censored!"s and in season I give them weeds from the garden.Good luck with whatever you decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Mine are very happy on a slabbed area. A layer of Aubiose gives them something to scratch about in, and a cabbage or some broccoli gives them something to peck at. So, in answer to your question, they will be perfectly happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 This was also the very first question I asked - My girls have no grass but a WIR with slabs and aubiose, they get to run round the garden every day and dig around under the hedges but have no grass - as long as you supplement their diet with lots of greens they will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 My chickens arn't allowed anywhere near my lawn! They did have grass in their area, but it's long since been eaten and doesn't have a chance to grow back. They have all my veg s"Ooops, word censored!"s though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
