Brooding hen has chicks in nesting box

[Treacle]

I need some urgent advise. My girls are in a 12m x 3m fenced off area of the garden which used to be part soil, part grass but has become dust in all the dry weather we have had. However, It has been raining for days now and the clay soil is turning into a pond. I have tried digging it over every few days but it just isn't draining what do I do? I can't seem to find chicken wellies anywhere!

[Redwing]

I'd confine them to a smaller bit of the run and chuck down bags of woodchip on that bit giving the larger oart time to drain and dry out

[Jools]

I'd split the area into two runs. For one half I'd find a friendly tree surgeon and cover it with a good layer of woodchip and move your chickens onto there. I'd seed or turf the second half and give it time to establish before letting the destroyers back on it. Then I'd keep them on the grassy half from April - October and switch them to the woodchip area for November - March, which gives both sides time to rest and recover, reducing parasite build up as an added benefit. Alternatively, you could just switch them from one side to the other according to how the grass is standing up to their excavations.

[Treacle]

After a good nights sleep I have decided to campaign for a WIR!

[Chookiepie]

We had the same ground problems as you do Treacle . We have found a solution that works for us -we laid rubber play mats on the ground and then covered with wood chips, the mats have holes in them so worms etc can come through for the hens to peck. The mats extend outside the run and that makes it easier for us to walk around the cube and run even although the rest of the grass is very boggy and muddy.The mats are 1.5x 1metre , if you google rubber play mats you will find a few sites that sell them .

[Margaret]

http://www.funky-wellington-boots.co.uk/chicken-print-wellies.php

 

My son brought me these for Christmas

[Treacle]

I want a pair of those wellies!!!!