Sandy2572 Posted November 1, 2010 Share Posted November 1, 2010 I am new to chickens and have been moving their run and eglu around the lawn up to now. Now with all the wet weather the lawn is really wet and squelchy and I'm feeling really sorry for our girls and their wet feet. I have decided to move them to a border and set up the run and eglu in a permanent location. But how do I get the ground not so wet and boggy. Should I put wood chips down and aubiose? What do other people use? Please help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted November 1, 2010 Share Posted November 1, 2010 hardwood chips are very good for a covered or uncovered run If you cover the run then you may get away with Aubiose Clear corrugated sheets from Wickes/B&Q are good for run covering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
green Posted November 1, 2010 Share Posted November 1, 2010 I know what you mean, my garden is a mud field! I've got my eglu set permanently on the border and it seems to be the driest place in the garden. I've covered the run with some corrugated plastic and use Hemcore/Aubiose in the run, so far it's working brilliantly. If you don't want to cover your run, then people have recommended using woodbark, but personally I'd go for Hemcore as whenever I clean the run I can just rake it all out and pop it in the compost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trougher Posted November 1, 2010 Share Posted November 1, 2010 We've got our run on slabs, and then put aubiose or whatever bedding on top of that. Although the run is covered, the ground still used to get wet, but now the slabs are there, any water which might have seeped in from the side stays under the slabs, and the chickens stay nice and dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted November 1, 2010 Share Posted November 1, 2010 If the ground is already muddy before you cover the run area you could throw down tree trimmings like leylandii to protect it until it dries a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy2572 Posted November 2, 2010 Author Share Posted November 2, 2010 Thank you for all your thoughts. It looks like it could be a trip down to Wickes at the weekend to get the run covered. I have been using the Omlet winter shade but even that was dripping! By the way - if you put wood chips in the run, how often are you cleaning these out? I am lucky enough to work from home a couple of days a week and the 3 girls have free range in the garden then, otherwise they stay in the run whilst I'm at work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
