megalin Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 * Hello hello dear omleteers * Just debating whether to use woodchip or gravel in our run extension (when we get round to finishing it ) Our run at the moment is paved, then we have woodchip on top. I find it a bit time consuming as I pick up all the pooey bits, put them in a bucket and wash it through every few days and pop them back in. Perhaps I'm mad. I've been considering putting gravel down when we extend it, maybe with a landscaping membrane under so it doesn't get muddy, then in theory I could just hose it down..... Would it wash through nicely with a membrane? I'm just guessing they have holes in? Wasn't sure if gravel would irritate their feet being in it all day either, I suppose you just get big gravel. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 If you have fairly freely draining soil, the gravel should be OK. If not, you may end up with a stinking mass under the gravel, as the poo accumulates beneath it. This happened to someone I know, and in the hot weather it was unbearable. It was an expensive mistake for her, and took some shifting. too. I'd go for the woodchip, or even Aubiose (with a cover on the run), and dig it out and replace as necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 We tried Woodchip one summer - normally use Hemcore, but throught would try leaving the run mostly uncovered, so had to change). Was fine - but not as good as horse bedding... The following summer I kept the cover on, and stuck to hemcore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megalin Posted January 4, 2011 Author Share Posted January 4, 2011 Hmmmmm... Ok thank you both. Will have a think about it. I've contacted lots of tree surgeons so I guess if we can get free woodchip I'll just use that. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trougher Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 I tried using woodchip on my slab base, but I didn't care for how it became after a few days of chicken poo and wee on it. I thought it went pretty disgusting, so I switched to aubiose. It absorbs excretions well and doesn't seem to smell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella14 Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 Have you considered sand? We have been using that from getting our birds a couple of months ago. The recomendation was to poo pick and then change the sand every 6 months. However, we found poo picking near impossible as it all disapears into the sand. So, rather than leave it six months, we have just changed it at two months. We only have about 2" in there (also on concrete) and we have had no smell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
