Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[egbert101]

Hi

 

I currently have 5 chickens in a moveable run which we are moving about the garden every 2 days in an effort to save the grass - however even in 2 days they can do a lot of damage. So we have decided to bow to the inevitable and make them a permanent WIR. I have been nosing through the forum and seem some beautiful pictures of WIRs already, so can you tell me what the best design feature are - best features and worst I guess, so I can aim for the delux edition from the start - I don't want to have to keep changing it very year.

 

I have enough room to make a fair sized run - the house we have already is big enough for at least another 5 chickens so I am thinking that a benefit of the WIR is I can get more ladies. So - how much room for 10 chickens?

 

Its a grass and dirt area, so doesnt become waterlogged as it was lawn, but what is the best floor covering / way of clearing up their poo so it doesnt become toxic with a build up of bacteria?

 

What are the essential features for keeping foxes and rats out f the run?

 

Thanks for all your help

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum . You won't regret building a WIR, it's the best thing I ever did .

 

Mine's only 2.5x2m, so just enough for 5 girls but they have loads of perches and branches and the whole floor space free as the eglu is on a table.

 

Best features? My stable door plus human sized door ' The roof plus guttering is a must too, in my opinion. Mine sits on slabs with soil in the middle - they love digging and dustbathing in it.

 

Flooring - I'd recommend horse bedding (easibed, hemcore, aubiose). Stays dry (if you have a roof) and magically absorbs poos. I use Stalosan F on the floor after a cleanout to keep nasties at bay.