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

[chestnutmare]

Is this safe for the chickens? http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?isSearch=true&fh_search=0000003717516'>http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?isSearch=true&fh_search=0000003717516

It doesn't look like bark (to me) but is in bark category. If the link doesn't work enter: 0000003717516 into the B&Q (http://www.diy.com) search box.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Redwing]

You're right - they arent bark, they are woodchips and ideal for a run I have them in a few of my runs and they last a while especially if you have a cover or roof on the run

[chestnutmare]

You're right - they arent bark, they are woodchips and ideal for a run I have them in a few of my runs and they last a while especially if you have a cover or roof on the run

Super, thanks, Redwing! Second time lucky. I bought wood bark today as it's all I could find in two different stores. I just thought it would rot down quicker, I didn't know it could be harmful until SC informed. Ooops. Thank goodness for this lovely forum.

[chuckmum6]

I use this. I have just (yesterday) mucked out the cube train, put stalosan down and then 6 bags of this wood chip, my cockerel Onion was very excited and kept digging and calling to his girls to come and look! Just don't get the terracotta chip, which has been stained.

[Gertie]

I have used this before. It lasted quite well, smells natural & wasn't too expensive. Did get a bit soggy in the rain though. I tried wood/bark chips from a tree surgeon. These looked lovely but mulched quicker than the B&Q ones! I now have a clear tarp over my coop & use Easibed at the moment which is nice.

[Chickybaby]

I use these, bought some more today so I can have a good old muck out sometime this week! They are really good and smell lovely when they are first put down. They do get soggy if they get wet, as Gertie said, but soon dry out.

[chestnutmare]

Thanks all. I got myself a couple of bags today (and returned the wood bark ). I also got myself a couple of chairs for chicken-watching.

 

As for the wood chips, how often do you replace them? Mine will be in with extension, outside. I'll use the shade as and when but they're still going to get wet at times and poo and what not on them.

[Gertie]

I replace the Easibed in the classic 2metre run every 3 ish weeks as the 3 ex batts are still a bit stinky & messy. In the cube with the wood chips and 4 girls I suppose every 2 months. I add half a bag every few weeks to top it up, rake it over & put stalosan f down. Some people do daily poo picking so it would last longer. Also I have mine covered so it stays drier. I had to replace it more often when it was uncovered as it got a bit boggy. It's a bit of trial and error to see what works for you & your set up I think!

 

I did the whole thorough clean today & it took me ages! The girls seem so happy & excited when new chips are added though

 

Not so good is I saw a fox about 5 minutes after I left the garden - at 2pm!

 

Glad u got some chairs - u will definitely need them... A thermal cup & maybe a side table for the biscuits!!

[chestnutmare]

I replace the Easibed in the classic 2metre run every 3 ish weeks as the 3 ex batts are still a bit stinky & messy. In the cube with the wood chips and 4 girls I suppose every 2 months. I add half a bag every few weeks to top it up, rake it over & put stalosan f down. Some people do daily poo picking so it would last longer. Also I have mine covered so it stays drier. I had to replace it more often when it was uncovered as it got a bit boggy. It's a bit of trial and error to see what works for you & your set up I think!

 

I did the whole thorough clean today & it took me ages! The girls seem so happy & excited when new chips are added though

 

Not so good is I saw a fox about 5 minutes after I left the garden - at 2pm!

 

Glad u got some chairs - u will definitely need them... A thermal cup & maybe a side table for the biscuits!!

 

Thanks.

It sounds as though they clean was worth it when you saw your girls excited. I bet they love scratching about on them.

As for the fox... I feel for them but they can be very cheeky!! What was he/she doing, where were you?

Yep, they're compact stools so we can put them away (need to utilise the space, especially for when we expand ), as for the table... great idea. Especially in summer. I'm already planning to get the lounger out for summer!

Have you added your extension to your cube yet?

[chuckmum6]

My cube train is covered, but the chickens stay in it if the weather is wet or cold, otherwise they are out and about in the garden. So I rake and stalosan it monthly and change it every 4 months or a little more if drier.

[Gertie]

Hi CM

 

I do feel for the foxes too. Today's fox was not the same as the one I saw the other day. It was quite a mangy looking one! I had just finished my cleaning session & went in to paint the bathroom. The window looks out onto the garden so I heard the girls shouting & looked out, saw fox slinking away. It was a worry though as even though they were safe in the eglu runs, when I was cleaning, the girls were in a large enclosure I have made. It's made of chicken wire with 6ft sides but no roof, guess foxy was waiting! I did go in a couple of times as I was mixing food with flubenvet which took aaaagggeeess (ages!!).

 

Very practical with the fold up stools, I have manky plastic chair left by previous house owner & a car boot table but it does the job. What hens are you getting? So exciting!

 

It took me ages to clean then I was painting so not attemped cube runs other than looking at boxes in the garage & feeling guilty. Did take first step to introducing exbatts to my other hens by moving runs right next door. They didn't seem to notice so that was good!!

[chestnutmare]

Thanks chuckmum.

 

We've had a visit from the fox who didn't even bother until we left the garden. No doubt a fox will have a lot of trouble getting into the eglu run, especially with five jack russell terriers nearby, when they're in their run the fox won't be able to just take one and run for it, as he did when we had free-rangers.

Flippin foxes, why don't they go and eat some veg!

 

They're camping/fold up chairs, very practical and on sale. I'm not 100% sure on what hens we're getting - we're going to the poulty place and will see what takes our fancy. But I'm keen on getting three different hens. Can't wait and my mother is also looking forward to tasting proper fresh eggs again. So here's hoping they're good layers and don't keep us waiting too long.

 

Are all your hens going in the ? And does that then mean you'll have spare accomodation? ( )

[Gertie]

It is exciting choosing hens. I have a bovans nera, bluebell, maran, a warren & the 3 ex batts. I am planning to put them all together but I'm going to wait until February half term so the ex batts will hopefully be fully feathered by then. Fresh eggs are wonderful, I eat so many! Hopefully your Go will be with you & you can get hens before the week is out!!

 

I might get some more ex batts for the classic as they so deserve a chance at a better life.