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

[quirkas]

I hope this is not a repeat, typed it out clicked submit and it vanished!

I have been reading everything I can on the Forum about this subject but I am still undecided so..

I have a cube with extended run. The run top is covered but the sides pretty open. I currently use straw which is either dragged out damp and ghastly in winter or vanishes under the cube or out into the garden in summer. The girls (Velociraptors) are in for most of the day, allowed out when we are about. We are about to section a bit of the garden off for them to allow more out time, what covering other than soil/mud should we use.

What is the best flooring? Cleaning out and their excavating has dropped the soil level in the run by several inches . I have read that wood chipping are better than bark chippings why? What about splinters or if there is Yew in the bark/wood?

If I use Auboise what happens if it does get a bit wet? Wood or bark could be used as mulch in the veg garden or put in the compost bin what about Auboise? Also I toss sweeties (sunflower seeds) into their run to get them back inside at closing run time so presumably there is no danger from their eating some of it if indeed they do they seem quite clever at spotting what they want to eat.

I would hope to ‘poo pick’ daily and change it all perhaps twice a year, is that feasible?

In a quandary

What do other think?

Angela

[Space Chick]

Aubiose or hemcore is only really suitable for enclosed runs as it gets dire when it is wet

 

wood chip, I know some people use it with success and change it a few times a year. Bark is not recommended as it can contain spores that can cause health problems for your girls. I wouldn't worry about splinters