What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[jens cakery]

Hi everyone, I'm really sorry if this has been asked before!

 

I don't move my run and the girls spend most of their time in it. I've put playground wood chips in which looks great - and they love it - for about 2 days at a time!

 

The trouble is they LOVE to dig. They dig nice deep holes to dust-bath in (more of a mud bath at the moment though) and this means (1) all the wood chips disappear into the mud in a couple of days (2) it starts to look like the peak district with rolling hills and deep valleys - sadly not green though and (3) they dig deep holes near to the edges of the runs, almost as if they're trying to tunnel out, which makes me worry that Mr Fox is going to find it easy to tunnel IN. I rake it all over but as soon as I do, they've dug another hole!

 

So my question is...should I put slabs under the woodchip? Will they be cross that they can't dig their escape tunnels? I seem to remember someone saying they were going to put down that rubber matting you get in playgrounds - the stuff with holes that supposedly lets grass grow through. Would that be OK under the woodchip?? If I do this should I put a tray of dirt so they can still have dust baths?

 

My girls are looking very sorry for themselves today - muddy and bedraggled - so I'm off to wilkos for a shower curtain in a sec. I'm also going to find something for them to use as a perch in the run (plant pots?) so they can keep out of the mud.

 

Any help gratefully received and sorry if I'm repeating questions...

[Clairey_Fairy]

Hi,

I put my woodchip down on Saturday as run was muddy, and exactly the same as you, they are digging massive holes! I have got the eglu run with fox proof edging, and with log roll round the edge I don't think they'd actually get out, but if anyone has any experience of this it would be good to know, as when I am out at work all day I will worry.

How deep is your woodchip? Mine is a good 4 to 5 inches, and so far have not managed to quite dig down to the mud. Give them time though! I too need to put some perching in there. Upside down plant pots was suggested, haven't got any yet, but with the digging I think they would just fall over. Maybe an old broom handle for now until I find a good branch.

Claire

[Clairey_Fairy]

This is my 'before' and 'after'

 

[balti]

hello.

 

I have a cube and was putting wood chip down. Trouble is the smaller the space ( yours is smaller area than cube )

you need to keep raking and moving it around - I would suggest doing everything you can to keep it dry, Not easy but

plastic shower curtains etc to keep dry. I made stupid mistake of not changing my regularly this summer and it

went like a rock due to summer - with constant weeing and pooing on it - it caused problems with chickens - I now

use horse bedding - big shavings - it does not stick together so much and i can get it out easier and add... its not

so heavy.

 

I use bamboo canes straight through the mesh for them to perch on. its good this time of year as it gets them off

the floor. i tape 2 together and slot them through, Im not sure if you can do with eglu? maybe the mesh too

small? takes a few days for them to work it out but once 1 is on - they all follow...

 

They do kick their bedding all about for a while but i have now dug down about a foot and filled it. With an eglu

cant you just move them about on the grass? Do you have to have chip ?