Chicken boarders

[Donna C]

Hi all, as the nights are drawing in and the morning seem so much colder, i'd like to know if there is anything i should be doing. my two orpingtons are 16 weeks old now. one really featered, other still scrawny.Want to keep them happy

[Egluntyne]

**Clicketty Click**. Link to this article stickified at the top of this section.

[Donna C]

thanks, had looked at that and was just wondering which bits if any do people really use other than obvious ie cleaning poop and making sure have water?

[Plum]

When it's really cold I give mine some corn if I get home before dark to keep them warm at night. When it was well below freezing I put some newspaper in the slot above poo tray to stop the draft and screwed up newspaper to reduce the amount of air in the house. I also used a snugglesafe and reheated it at midnight but only when it was -6 or so.

 

Most of the winter I just treated them normally

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I didn't do much differently, tbh. When it was snowing and really cold, I put an old travelling rug with plastic backing over the eglu.

[MarkBevBen]

Thanks for starting this thread Donna, it's things I've been wondering about too - being new to owning chickens.

 

The other day someone from here recommended putting either clear tarpaulin or a clear shower curtain over the run as well to help keep the girls dry.

 

It's been so damp and wet here, hope they'll be okay

[Clairey_Fairy]

My poor girls are looking so wet and bedragled today! The weather is awful but they chose to come out in it, and the run is so muddy now. I hate to see them all wet and worry about them getting cold. They could always go inside though. My plan for today was to build them a proper run base on wood chippings, but it's soooo wet, this may have to wait till tomorrow.

Couple of questions though.

Should I put anything under the woodchip, I was thinking sand? Will this aid with drainage, or should I just put the woodchip straight on the mud?

I have got an Eglu run, not much height, but should I be putting anything in there for them to perch/sit on? I feel bad for them standing on wet ground all the time.

I have got a winter shade, not put it on yet, as was waiting for 'winter' but I hope this will keep them a bit drier.

Thanks, Claire.

[Plum]

I would get the shade on now or if you want them to have a bit more light get an ikea clear shower curtain for 78p and hold it on with clips or bungee then the ground will get drier and I would put the wood chip down without anything under it.

 

Leave the side away from the rain uncovered so they get ventilation and you'll be really happy. You can keep the woodchip in the run by putting 9" plastic lawn edging or similar round the edge held on with ties.

 

There's room in the eglu run for perches. Branches are better than a broom handle because you can make it a bit wider or a bit of 2x1 wood smoothed around the edges. You can use upside down flowerpots as well to keep their little feet dry.

 

Have fun, get your wellies out

[Clairey_Fairy]

Thank you Plum!

Winter cover now on, will get a back-up shower curtain next time we are near IKEA. Girls look much happier already! We have a garage full of log roll edging all ready to go in, just off to get the woodchip, and I'll sort them out some bits to perch on. Should have done all this before the chickens arrival but we have been so lucky with the weather so far, and once I got the Eglu I couldn't wait for the chooks!

I'll try and get some photos on at some point. I love seeing everyone elses!

[goodinparts]

In Bristol Ikea last week they had no sign of clear plastic shower curtains - so I'm exploring elsewhere. My girls seem determined to get as wet as possible today - which makes me feel a bit sad for them, as they look so bedraggled - but they can get under cover in the , under the shade or even just under the assorted trees in their bit of the garden - so clearly they wanted a cold shower. Sooner them than me...It's vile here - and reminds me I must get some paving slabs sorted as stepping stones across the mud to the or it will be an extremely mucky winter!

[The Dogmother]

I don't worry about them too much - they have a higher body temperature than us, so feel the cold less than you'd think.

 

Mine have a clear tarp over the run all year round to keep it dry. When the temp goes below -3deg at night, I shut the cube door, apart from that, all I do is pop a Snugglesafe under their drinker when it is frozen.

[Donna C]

Thanks for all advice, it's still raining here. mine look so miserable i just want to give them a big hus. People keep talking about a snuggle safe. would u only use this in real low temp or am i o'k to use when little chilly.my girls are only 15weeks old but are buff orpingtons and would a hot water bottle under perches do same thing ????

[The Dogmother]

I wouldn't bother with a Snugglesafe in the housing unless it's below -8deg at nigth - the Omlet housing is well insulated and they keep themselves warm enough.

[green]

A quick question, isn't the Omlet winter shade water proof or is there another reason for putting more sturdy material on top of the run? I've just ordered a winter shade, because I couldn't find corrugated plastic anywhere and I read somewhere that the chickens were terrified of the tarpaulin flapping in the wind. I thought I'd play it safe and get the 'proper' thing.

[The Dogmother]

They are opaque, so will keep the light out - the very thing you don't want in the winter - you'll need to maximise the daylight for your chooks, hence a clear, waterproof covering. Chooks kept on wet litter will get bad feet, and it's a breeding ground for bacteria.

[MarkBevBen]

Hey everyone, some great tips here. I've just tried to rain-proof our Eglu run this afternoon. Hopefully it'll help a bit.

 

Following Karena's suggestion on here I went to Wilkinsons and got a clear shower curtain (with gold writing on ) and tied it with pink wool.

 

That and I keep moving the Eglu around the garden onto fresh patches of grass for the girls

 

[green]

But of course! I was worried about the run getting muddy and hens wet, but totally ignored the fact that they might like some light as well. Grrr....

 

More silly questions to come, I'm sure.

[The Dogmother]

No worries Green, we all have to start somewhere.

 

I am slabbing all the ground under the cube run this autumn (if it ever stops raining ) to make it easier to clean. I shall move the chicks in their eglu off the lawn and onto the patio this weekend, it'll give the grass a chance to grow again or I'll end up with lots of bald patches.

 

The bunnies are going back in their winter palace this weekend too, so their rablu will be jetwashed, powdered and ready to store for the winter

[littlebird]

Thanks everyone for this forum thread, has really helped me out today with organising wet weather protection for my girls. They were looking really sorry for themselves in the awful rain today

littlebird jane katy sarah and claire.

[green]

I am slabbing all the ground under the cube run this autumn (if it ever stops raining ) to make it easier to clean.

 

So the chooks would be happy on slabs? My hubby's been trying to suggest paving the area underneath the run, but I wasn't sure the chooks would like it. What would you put on top of the slabs to make sure they've got something to scratch?

[Clairey_Fairy]

Here are my gorgeous girlies!

 

 

They love to stand on the deck right outside the back door! And dust bath behind the gooseberry bush.

[Plum]

They are gorgeous and you're still green

 

I've used woodchip, hemcore, easibed and aubiose at various times over slabs and they all work well. keep it several inches thick.

[MarkBevBen]

Here are my gorgeous girlies!

 

 

They love to stand on the deck right outside the back door! And dust bath behind the gooseberry bush.

 

 

Awww hello Ruby and Stella - wonder if they're related to our Cottie and Dottie? We got ours just before you see

 

Absolutely gorgeous girls thank you for sharing your pictures Clairey xxx

[MarkBevBen]

They are gorgeous and you're still green

 

I've used woodchip, hemcore, easibed and aubiose at various times over slabs and they all work well. keep it several inches thick.

 

 

That's good advice, thanks Plum

[Clairey_Fairy]

They are just like your Cottie and Dottie! So sad that you lost Lottie so soon We got them from a local farm though, rather than Omlet, so maybe not related but definately same/similar breeds.

 

Yep, still got some green in the garden, but only had them 2 weeks! There's time yet! Sun is shining today, so time to get to work on the woodchip base.

 

Have fun in the sun today, it'll be back to wet weather contingencies next week I think!