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[chickweed48]

Hi,

Can someone help me please? My henhouse is enclosed in a 8ft square square run with roof on hard standing. The original idea was to make this fox proof, avoid damage to grass area, and make cleaning easier. I originally put hard wood bark on the surface because I was told that this would be easy to clean down. However, the chicken pooh became stuck to the back and, when I hosed down, the pooh ran off onto my pathways and lawn. It also took ages to wash down.

I have now thrown this away and am looking for an alternative.

 

I have looked through the pictures on this site and see lovely runs that look incredibly clean. I have seen what looks like sawdust?, gravel and bark. I have also been unable to see any obvious drainage channels.

 

If anyone can give me advise please I would be very grateful

 

Gaye

[migsy]

I use Auboise or Hemcore. You put a thick covering of it on the floor and then you pick the poo out of it every couple of days. It is absorbant so the poo dries out. You do need a kickboard around the run though or it will come out. You can dig it out and replace it when it looks yucky but it is much easier to dig out than woodchips because it is much lighter.

[Plum]

I use easibed, hemcore or aubiose and you dont hose it down it absorbs and the poo clumps so you can rake it out easily.

It needs to be dry so I have clear glass pvc tarpaulins to hang on whichever side the rain is coming from and it stays nice and fresh and healthy.

I sprinkle some stalosan down to kill any bugs etc. every few weeks, and clean it out every 6 wks to 3 mnths. Then sweep and wash floor and start again. You need some boards or edging to stop it getting kicked out.

 

No drainage channels so when I wash the floor I sponge it up again - easy.

[debbie9946]

Where do you buy the aubiose or hemcore from?

[Plum]

Equestrian suppliers or some chicken places sell it. Any of the horse beddings work well.

[chickweed48]

Thanks for the quick responses to my question. I have been using aubiose inside the house and nest box but didn't think I could use it as ground cover. Presumably it has to be pretty thick on the ground and doesn't it blow away? Also what is glass PVC please? Is this just clear plastic? My husband seems to think that I will need to cover the whole run top and sides as we won't know in which direction the rain is coming from but I don't like the idea of this.

Gaye

[Plum]

You have to become rather sad and have BBC weather as your homepage and plan ahead.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/2219?search=belper&itemsPerPage=10&region=uk&area=Belper

 

I've sent you details about the glass tarp but will put it here for others - http://www.qvsshop.co.uk/qvsgpvc3-2m-x-36m-glass-clear-pvc-tarpaulins-113-p.asp

 

My aubiose never blows but it is quite a sheltered spot.

[migsy]

My auboise never blows either. I do not have a glass tarp and the rain does get in on one side. I have mesh and soil underneath the auboise and when the auboise gets wet it decomposes in that area so I just have to top it up at the damp end of the run a bit more frequently.