Part 0800.0005

[KateC]

Hello

 

Just got back from a brilliant "Chicken course" where possible run flooring was discussed. Never heard of rubber chippings but these were mentioned and seemed a good idea as you can wash them down. We had thought of bark chippings but were advised they can go mouldy and cause health problems. Can anyone advise me please. What about shingle? Any thoughts. Can't wait to get chooks but need to get everything prepared. Thank you.

[pips_pekins]

Hi. I am new to chicken keeping and have been through the same dilemma. Rubber chips do not seem to be all that popular. That said, people have their own preferences and it will depend on whether you have a covered run or not as some things will go to mush! I have natural hardwood chips in my run which is covered. I have found them easy to deal with. Poo pick as much as I can with an eglu classic run, rake, stalosan and rake again. I also use aubiose and woodshavings to soak up any damp. Hope this helps.

[witzend]

I'm tending towards a mix of aubiose and easi-chick (or similar) - at least to start with (LOL!)..............

[percy049]

A lot of people use aubiose, or a similar hempchips, such as cozy coop and hemp-ee. We keep our house and run on gravel, but it is a bit muddy, although they hardly spend any time in there

[Green Tea]

Flyte so Fancy sell rubber chippings but if you continue down to the bottom of the page they explain why they don't think they are a good idea for chicken runs

 

http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/Hardwood_Woodchip_for_Runs.html

[KateC]

Thank you for all your advice. I think hard wood chippings may be the way forward. Didn't think there would be so many things to think about to get a few chooks but I am really hoping it will all be worthwhile. Having cuddled a couple today, I am already addicted and they weren't even mine!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I use Easibed or Hemcore - both brilliant .

[Egluntyne]

Steer clear of rubber chippings! A friend of mine had them put down, at huge expense and within a couple of months the stench of the poo which was trapped underneath them was so bad it made visitors gag. I saw a similar comment about them on the forum the other day.

 

I use Aubiose and add some wood cat litter pellets to it for the run.

[pips_pekins]

I got hardwood chips from B&Q. They are about £6 a bag and I have used a bag per metre of my eglu run. You will love having your own chickens. What are you planning to get and what will they be kept in?

[KateC]

I am planning on getting 4 hybrid birds. Probably a black tail and a goldline and then I have to choose the other two. I quite like the idea of an Amberlink as it is meant to be quite friendly. Not sure of the last one, possibly a speckledy one but will see what grabs me when I go to choose. I would like them all to be different as I want to name them! I have a cube and four metre run being delivered on Wednesday hence the panic about flooring for the run. I want to get the girls as soon as I can now I have met some!

[Heidi-Hi]

I am planning on getting 4 hybrid birds

That's how I started!!! And then the strangest thing happened - I got Morehens Disease... I've now got 12... Good luck with sticking to 4, especially if you got a cube to fill

[pips_pekins]

I have gone for different ones as well but it is really addictive and believe people when they talk about morehens. It is real. You do sound so excited . I hope you get them soon. And of course, we need pictures. BTW, what colour cube have you chosen?

[KateC]

I have plumped for green. We have a green beehaus so they will look good together. I will definitely put photos on and let you know the names I give them all. Can't wait.

[sadietoo]

Cover your run and use Aubiose would be my advice. I hardly ever poo pick my current run (eglu classic in a fixed spot so can't get to most of it anyway, but new cube collected and in the Garden waiting for assembly...(I may not sleep tonight for excitement)), and I just rake the whole lot out every couple of months or so. £7 will get you a big bag and you can put it in the poo tray too...then you only need to empty it straight into the compost heap...and your plants and veggies will love you too!

 

OH and you have a beehaus too....I am very

[KateC]

Hope you get some sleep Bet you can't wait. Only just got our bees but have been on a course. Fascinating to watch these brilliant little creatures. So clever and mainly girls!!!

[sadietoo]

Hope you get some sleep Bet you can't wait. Only just got our bees but have been on a course. Fascinating to watch these brilliant little creatures. So clever and mainly girls!!!

 

I would soooo love to keep bees, but we just don't have enough space. I have always been fascinated, ever since they discovered they do a "dance" yes that long ago!! Do let us know how you get along with them......

[KateC]

Will do. Hope the cube construction goes well.

[Henergy]

Cover your run and use Aubiose would be my advice. I hardly ever poo pick my current run (eglu classic in a fixed spot so can't get to most of it anyway, but new cube collected and in the Garden waiting for assembly...(I may not sleep tonight for excitement)), and I just rake the whole lot out every couple of months or so. :

 

Do they not get knee deep in poo ? Or are my chickens excessive pooers ? I have Aubiose under the roosting bars & have to empty it every other day due to copious amouhts of poo. We are making a WIR soon & it does worry me that I'll be clearing it out daily - I currently sweep up the poo in their freerange area every other day & end up with half a bucket full (and I've only 2 hens !!!)

[percy049]

I have 5 hens in my classic, and I only empty they aubiose in the house twice a week. How long are your hens shut in your house at night?

[Henergy]

They are shut in from 9.30 till 7am.

[pips_pekins]

I would soooo love to keep bees, but we just don't have enough space. I have always been fascinated, ever since they discovered they do a "dance" yes that long ago!! Do let us know how you get along with them......

 

Same here sadietoo I am of your bees KateC

 

I hardly ever poo pick my current run

 

Do they not get knee deep in poo ? Or are my chickens excessive pooers ?

 

Mine are in a classic with run extension and I find it almost impossible to poo pick unless it is near the door or sides This morning there was a massive poo right in the middle of the run. I tried to get it but without much success. I tend to wash the chips once a week and rake it up. Because of the girls scratching about and it only being covered over the top, it seems to be ok. I am worried about how it will smell in the summer but I guess if it gets bad I will just need to change it and wash it a bit more often

 

My girls are only bantams and so their knees are much lower down but they seem ok

 

Also because they are still quite small, they don't use the roosting bars but sleep in the nest so I empty that every day and refill with aubiose. The tray under the roosting bars I empty 2 or 3 times a week but it is mainly just newspaper with a few bits of aubiose and the odd stray feather. I actually thought they might poo more

[percy049]

Mine are 9-6

[KimmyCustard]

Mine are just on the earth which I dig over and Stalosan once a month in case of Coccid, they have Aubiose under the rooster bars and in the Cube nest box. I poo pick either every day or every two days.

 

Am I the only one that sets her alarm for 5am to let the girls out then goes back to bed??!!

[witzend]

have you tried propping door open so they can come out when they're ready?

[KimmyCustard]

Theyre in a Cube so I could leave the door open but wont they get cold overnight?