Sooo much pooping

[RRRisnewtochickens]

Hey everyone, me again with yet another question!

 

I think we will be using bark or such like as the basis for the run, but I was just wondering how do you clean it when it gets pooped on?

 

Thanks, Ria

[Guest]

For me because I free range mine in the garden everyday after school and on the weekends I remove all bark and replace it every 3-4 weeks.

[Falkor]

Hi

 

Personally I wouldn`t use bark as it tends to stay wet all the time and then when mixes with poo that can get a bit whiffy. Apparently it can also harbour nasty mould/spores which is not good for you or the chookies.

 

I use natural hard woodchips for my bantams in a covered cube run. I poo pick the "big ones" when I go in and sort feeders etc and rake it all over every few days. I sprinkle Stalosan F about every week/fortnight. I do a big cleanout where it all comes out and is replaved when I think it needs it which is really dependent on how much FR time they get.

 

In the big girls run I use Aubiose which I treat pretty much the same but most of the poop disappaers into the aubiose so less poo picking.

[RRRisnewtochickens]

We used to use Aubiose for our small animals so I dont mind using that again. How often does it need to be changed? And what do you put it straight on top of, i.e. slabs, mud, etc?

 

The area we will be using already has slabs laid down so I just need have something on top of that?

 

I've read that some people use sand? Is that any good?

[Falkor]

Aubiose needs to be in a covered run but can go on top of slabs or straight onto the earth. My run is part slabbed and part earth and I get on fine with it.

 

I clean out the WIR as and when I think it needs it and probably skip out the bit by the door most weekends but as a rule I would say full clean every 6 weeks or go.

 

In a run of 3m x 3.5m (ish) i use about half - 2/3 of a bale and maybe throw a trug full in every so often. I also throw the pink fairy dust (Stalosan F) about too

[Egluntyne]

Another Aubiose fan here. You do need to cover the run though, as has been said.

[poppers77]

We use woodchip which i rake out each week & replace as ours only FR after work & weekend when we are home. They seem do most of their pooping when FR or sleeping so I find this easy to manage.I'm going to get some Stalosan though as i think this helps prevent the parasite build up as their house is in the perfect spot.

[RRRisnewtochickens]

Thanks everyone

 

When you say the run needs to be covered, how do you mean? Does it just need to have a roof or do the sides need to be covered as well?

 

We are planning on using a dog run (8 x 5 foot), which has a solid roof on it. The area the run will be in is enclosed by 3 fences that are very close and there will be another shed next to it as well. Do you think this would be ok?

 

Ria

[squidsin]

I'm using wood chip in mine - I've just raked out the top layer with the poo on and replaced it. I have a question about covered runs - if you use plastic sheeting or similar, doesn't it get very hot when the sun shines? I've just been putting the Omlet winter shade cover on when I think it's going to rain, but it doesn't actually cover the entire run (which is a bit annoying - and I can't quite work out Omlet's reasoning behind that!) Is there anything more effective than wood chip for a sort-of uncovered run?

[mabelandflosmum]

Well I use bark from B and Q and have no problems.

My run is half covered with transparent plastic as I was worried about it being too hot, the half that gets wet soon dries out now it's a bit warmer (though why is it so cold today, oh yes it's Bank Holiday!)

[squidsin]

I know, it's flippin' freezing! And really windy - I just put my pekins back in their run for the night as it looked like they were going to get blown across the lawn!

[Falkor]

I'm using wood chip in mine - I've just raked out the top layer with the poo on and replaced it. I have a question about covered runs - if you use plastic sheeting or similar, doesn't it get very hot when the sun shines? I've just been putting the Omlet winter shade cover on when I think it's going to rain, but it doesn't actually cover the entire run (which is a bit annoying - and I can't quite work out Omlet's reasoning behind that!) Is there anything more effective than wood chip for a sort-of uncovered run?

 

When I used the eglu run I used corrugated plastic sheets to cover the run and put the shade over the top to provide shade for them.

 

If you have a look at this thread and scroll down you will see ANH run set up. I had mine set up almost the same, just swap the clothes line covers for lawn edging and it is identical. Edging the run is a must I would say regardless of what bedding is used otherwise you will end up with aubiose/woodchip all over the place.

 

My cube run is also roofed with corrugated plastic sheets and shades at intervals. Some people use clear glass tarps which work great. They can be brought in different sizes and cover the sides of the run too. Some people even use them like blinds - roll the sides up in goos weather and down in rain etc.

 

With any run covering ventilation must be considered. Make sure a decent gap is left so that the air can flow through as poor ventilation can cause chooks as much harm as a gale blowing through. Adequate ventilation is probably the reason why the winter shade does not cover the whole run.

 

[Alis girls]

Surely the air will circulate underneath - isnt the point of the corrugated stuff to provide shleter from the rain? I cannot get auboise round here I have checked several horsey places.

[sadietoo]

Another Aubiose fan here.. straight on to slabs. I just top it up every week as needed, and then clean out completely once every six weeks or so I put stalosan down on these occasions (we have a dachshund that does the poo picking ) Mine are in an eglu run with a shower curtain held on by bungees and some corrugated plastic around the bottom of the run to stop it being kicked out...

 

I tried wood chip first but found it stayed very wet....

[Falkor]

Surely the air will circulate underneath - isnt the point of the corrugated stuff to provide shleter from the rain? I cannot get auboise round here I have checked several horsey places.

 

Yep, the air will circulate underneath as long as you don`t cover all the way to the bottom which is possible with the corrugated plastic

 

Hemcore is the english version of Aubiose, maybe you local horsey places stock that instead?