What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[Brianandlaura]

I have received my Omlet Go today and on opening the box it looks like the run has been used before, it looks very dusty and looks like it has mud on it, maybe this is normal!!

 

I was thinking of setting the run up on the patio to make life a bit easier, but because of keeping it dry I need to cover the run.

 

Will the winter cover for the normal omlet be ok for the Omlet go?

 

Also, we are going to get 3 chickens and just wondered how regular we would need to move the house and run if we choose to put it on grass, to save the grass from being wrecked. I have read wuite a few forums on here about peoples gardens turning into mud baths and I dont really want that to happen.

 

Hope someone can help, my partner Laura is very excited about getting the chickens on Saturday, she has been working on me for 6 years to get one of these, I just hope we enjoy it as much as other peiople have.

 

thanks Brian.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Hi Brian and welcome to the forum .

 

I have received my Omlet Go today and on opening the box it looks like the run has been used before, it looks very dusty and looks like it has mud on it, maybe this is normal!!

 

I wouldn't have thought a new run should look dusty and muddy, I'd make a quick call to Omlet just to let them know.

 

I was thinking of setting the run up on the patio to make life a bit easier, but because of keeping it dry I need to cover the run.

Lots of people do keep their runs on patios. Certainly easier to keep clean. You could set aside part of a flowerbed if you'd like them to have soil to scratch around in - depends on your garden though, what options you have! Horse bedding (Easibed/Hemcore/Aubiose are popular, there are others) is great for patios and on top of soil. Absorbs the poops and gives them something to scratch about in.

 

Will the winter cover for the normal omlet be ok for the Omlet go?

I don't have a Go but I think the covers work on either kind of run. I've used clear corrugated plastic sheets (from B&Q and the like) very successfully (I have a photo if you're interested!)

 

Also, we are going to get 3 chickens and just wondered how regular we would need to move the house and run if we choose to put it on grass, to save the grass from being wrecked. I have read wuite a few forums on here about peoples gardens turning into mud baths and I dont really want that to happen.

Grass really doesn't last long (especially in the winter) so the patio or a permanent area really is the best option. Moving the run every few days would soon become a chore.

 

Hope someone can help, my partner Laura is very excited about getting the chickens on Saturday, she has been working on me for 6 years to get one of these, I just hope we enjoy it as much as other peiople have.

 

I'm sure you will enjoy it. Keeping chickens is really easy and good fun . The eggs are just a bonus .

[chestnutmare]

You didn't buy a second hand/display Go did you?

I keep my Go on concrete and use B&Q hardwood chips for them to stand on and scratch about.

I have the winter cover which does help a lot. But it only covers the top and a a touch of the sides. So rain still gets in from the side. They're okay though and I keep telling myself - they are chickens afterall, flipping eck, my horses and dogs go out in the rain.

I wanted the chickens (I recently got them). My OH wasn't bothered either way. You should see him now, he 'gets' what all of the excitement is all about.

What types of chickens are you getting on Saturday?

[Brianandlaura]

Thanks for the replys.

 

No I bought a brand spanking new one so I expected it to be in tip top condition, it might be ok i just expected it to look shinny and new and not need a bit of a clean.

 

Not really sure what chickens we are getting, they are from someone we know who lives near us.

 

Yes please a some pictures would be great, this would help me to get mine set up, sounds like the patio might be the best opetion.

 

We have quite a big garden but no flower beds (Just a veg patch) and we will let them run loose in the lighhter evenings and weekends. I just need to block a few on the holes of round the edges of the garden. If they are allowed to run free do they tend to stay close by or will they try and escape never to be seen again!!

 

Once again, than you.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I think Omlet would probably want to know if a brand new one was going out dirty. I'd give them a call, they're very friendly!

 

Once you've had your chickens a while they tend to stay put (although depends on the bird, some like to explore!) A good tip is to keep them in the run for about 4-5 days when they first arrive, so "home" is imprinted on their little bird brains!

 

Here's my old setup (I moved onto a walk in run soon afterwards!)

 

[Brianandlaura]

Thant looks fantastic, also with it being clear plastic you can see inside.

 

I have given Omlet a call and they want me to text them some pictures of the run condition.

 

I take it to clean your run out, you just lift it all to one side and then place back after, how long does it keep before neading a clean.

 

This forum is very helpful.

 

Thanks.

[chestnutmare]

I would phone Omlet too. I'd want a new one to look new.

 

Here's my although now it has the Omlet shade too. They love scratching around in the woodchip.

 

Last weekend we set up 25m netting so they can have a wander although they seem happy in the 3m run. I use a food ball some days and late afternoon give a sprinkling of corn on the floor. They'll scratch around for ages.

 

I haven't given mine a through cleaning yet. I change the nest box daily, every other day the poo tray and roosting bars get washed down with the hose pipe. We've put Stolason F (powder disenfectant) on the woodchips and raked over. In a week or two are planning on lifting all of those pebbles to move the Go and run so we can put down fresh woodchip and wash everything with a disinfectant and a hosepipe. I'd say every month to give it a thorough clean. Raking the woodchip over and putting Stolason down must be doing it's job, there's no bad smells anyway.