Sooo much pooping

[Ariella26]

I've been busily researching- trawling through the posts on the forum and asking questions. Thanks to you all for your advice so far. So....we're just about ready to think about preparing the garden for the cube and run. (Though what colour we'll have will be another problem...)

We're going to have the cube and run on slabs. I wondered what was the best thing to then cover the slabs with? I can see many use aubiose but bark chippings are also suitable. How often would they need changing? (We'd have 4-6 chooks). I'd appreciate any advice on this, such as how long a bag of aubiose or chippings would last, how often it needs to be changed, does it neutralise smells, etc.

We won't be having a walk in run, so it won't be terribly easy to get in and clean up poo. Is this necessary to do on a daily/weekly/monthly basis? I just want a rough idea of how long the chippings/aubiose would last.

 

I see lime is advised to go in the run too - would I only do this if the chippings were going on soil or is this still a good idea on slabs too?

 

Inside the cube,I'm a bit unsure what I'd need. Newspaper to line the droppings tray and make it easy to clean, but I assume we need something in the egg port to break the fall of the eggs as they're laid. Would shredded paper be suitable?

Do the chickens need further bedding in the cube too? If so what would you advise and would this only need to be changed weekly?

 

I can see that layers pellets and mash are the main food source. Is there a preference, as I can see they're around the same price. Would they just be fed that in the morning and nothing later or would they require a second feed later in the afternoon?

 

The last things I have popped on my shopping list are:

* Grit and oystershell - Do I have these permanently in a bowl on offer?

* Bokashi bran - how often do chickens have this? Is it mixed with their food or offered separately?

* Diatom

* Red Mite and Louse powder - Do I use this every week to prevent mites and louse?

* Flubenvet - I believe worming needs to be done every six months

 

Please correct me on anything I've put and add anything else you think I need on my list. I have limestone flour as my tortoises have it on their food each day. Would I use it in the same way for chickens and just sprinkle some on their food?

Any tips on odour neutralising would be great too. I'd like to keep the neighbours happy.

 

I know I sound really ignorant but I want to ensure I'm as educated on their care as possible before we get the chooks.

Again, sorry for all the questions and thank you for your help.

[Leicester_H]

We're going to have the cube and run on slabs. I wondered what was the best thing to then cover the slabs with? I can see many use aubiose but bark chippings are also suitable. How often would they need changing? (We'd have 4-6 chooks). I'd appreciate any advice on this, such as how long a bag of aubiose or chippings would last, how often it needs to be changed, does it neutralise smells, etc.

We found aubiose much better than bark chippings for absorbing moisture (and smell). In summer we change it every 5-6 weeks, in winter every 3-4 weeks APPROX.

We won't be having a walk in run, so it won't be terribly easy to get in and clean up poo. Is this necessary to do on a daily/weekly/monthly basis? I just want a rough idea of how long the chippings/aubiose would last.

We clean out our eglu once a week and rake over the run aubiose most days (when we let them out to free range)

 

I see lime is advised to go in the run too - would I only do this if the chippings were going on soil or is this still a good idea on slabs too?

I don't think its necessary for slabs

 

Inside the cube,I'm a bit unsure what I'd need. Newspaper to line the droppings tray and make it easy to clean, but I assume we need something in the egg port to break the fall of the eggs as they're laid. Would shredded paper be suitable?

Do the chickens need further bedding in the cube too? If so what would you advise and would this only need to be changed weekly?

We use aubiose in the eglu and aubiose and shredded paper in the nest box - changed weekly as above - but scoop out droppings from next box (into eglu) most days (only takes 1 min)

 

I can see that layers pellets and mash are the main food source. Is there a preference, as I can see they're around the same price. Would they just be fed that in the morning and nothing later or would they require a second feed later in the afternoon?

Mash is fine powder and can blow around - pellets is far lesss messy. I fill up feeders every 2-3 days. They only eat what they need.

 

 

* Grit and oystershell - Do I have these permanently in a bowl on offer?

Yes - many of us have small bowls that clip to run

* Bokashi bran - how often do chickens have this? Is it mixed with their food or offered separately?

I mixed with pellets but mine don't like it!

* Diatom

I don't use this

* Red Mite and Louse powder - Do I use this every week to prevent mites and louse?

I would wait and see if you need this - I don't

* Flubenvet - I believe worming needs to be done every six months

Yes

 

Please correct me on anything I've put and add anything else you think I need on my list. I have limestone flour as my tortoises have it on their food each day. Would I use it in the same way for chickens and just sprinkle some on their food?

I only add this if the egg shells are too thin - I'd wait and see

Any tips on odour neutralising would be great too. I'd like to keep the neighbours happy.

Garlic powder (available in horsey shops - much cheaper than human grade) does this (surprisingly)

 

I know I sound really ignorant but I want to ensure I'm as educated on their care as possible before we get the chooks.

Again, sorry for all the questions and thank you for your help.

 

PS - Do you have (clear) tarpualin or corrugated plastic to shield from rain/smow etc ? See eglu / run section

Edited October 8, 2011 by Guest

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'll do my best .

 

how long a bag of aubiose or chippings would last, how often it needs to be changed, does it neutralise smells, etc.

I use Easibed and only change it every few months. I pick up any obvious large poos but the rest just get dried up and absorbed magically. On it's own I wouldn't say it neutralises smells but see Stalosan F comment below!

 

We won't be having a walk in run, so it won't be terribly easy to get in and clean up poo. Is this necessary to do on a daily/weekly/monthly basis? I just want a rough idea of how long the chippings/aubiose would last.

When I used to have an eglu run, I just scooped up the poo I could reach. Again, I only changed the bedding every few months. Possibly more in bad weather when it gets damp at the edges. There are clever people on the forum who have made a side door into their cube run for easier access .

 

I see lime is advised to go in the run too - would I only do this if the chippings were going on soil or is this still a good idea on slabs too?

I think the lime is only necessary on soil. I use Stalosan F, a powdered disinfectant which is good at neutralising odours and getting rid of nasties.

 

Inside the cube,I'm a bit unsure what I'd need. Newspaper to line the droppings tray and make it easy to clean, but I assume we need something in the egg port to break the fall of the eggs as they're laid. Would shredded paper be suitable?

I have a piece of heavy duty plastic which I cut to match the eglu poo tray. I have used shredded paper but in a windy garden like mine, it ends up all over the place! I use Easied in the tray and nestbox.

 

Do the chickens need further bedding in the cube too? If so what would you advise and would this only need to be changed weekly?

I don't have a cube but for an eglu I just put a thin layer of bedding under the roosting bars so the poo is easy to lift out.

 

I can see that layers pellets and mash are the main food source. Is there a preference, as I can see they're around the same price. Would they just be fed that in the morning and nothing later or would they require a second feed later in the afternoon?

I think mash is messier but some people prefer to use it. It's what ex-batts are used to. I use pellets and have no problems with it all. Just put feed out in the morning and leave it there all day so they can eat whenever they want. Some people bring feeders in at night (I don't personally).

 

The last things I have popped on my shopping list are:

* Grit and oystershell - Do I have these permanently in a bowl on offer? Yes, or add it to their feed.

* Bokashi bran - how often do chickens have this? Is it mixed with their food or offered separately? I add it to their food.

* Diatom

* Red Mite and Louse powder - Do I use this every week to prevent mites and louse? I sprinkle some in the nestbox after a clean out and dust under their wings every now and then.

* Flubenvet - I believe worming needs to be done every six months Every 3-4 months is more usual.

 

Please correct me on anything I've put and add anything else you think I need on my list. I have limestone flour as my tortoises have it on their food each day. Would I use it in the same way for chickens and just sprinkle some on their food? I would probably only use that if there was a problem with egg quality.

 

Any tips on odour neutralising would be great too. I'd like to keep the neighbours happy. Stalosan F!

[Ariella26]

Thank you both so much for your thorough replies.

It seems as if Easibed/Aubiose will be better than chippings then if they absorb moisture better (and I think I've read they compost better too).

I've definitely added Stalosan F to the list. The run won't be that far away from the neighbour's kitchen window (we're in a detached bungalow with a 'wraparound' garden. The animal section is beside the neighbours bungalow.

 

Great that I can use it in the cube as well, so no need to buy something different for bedding.

So if I clean the coop weekly and the run every 6-8 weeks, that should be okay, keep it hygenic and keep the smell down?

 

I'll go for layers pellets then and add the bokashi bran to it and put grit and oystershell into another grub hanger so it doesn't get blown about by the wind.

I'll sprinkle red mite powder in the cube after the weekly clean and not worry about limestone flour unless there's a shell problem with the eggs.

 

Do I need poultry shield to clean the cube each week or are there other alternatives?

 

I'll get some corrugated plastic for the run to make a roof. Is it easy to fix on?

 

It's all making sense to me now. Thanks!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Forgot about the garlic powder . That definitely works - I add it to their feed. You'll soon work out how often you have to clean things out, just adapt your routine to suit .

 

You can fix corrugated plastic on with bungee cords. If your garden isn't windy, you'll probably only need a clear shower curtain or similar.

[jackian]

Having my girls for 5 months now , and reading this forum daily (needed loads of help at times )

This thread has been the most helpful of any that I have read and has collected all my niggley little things together...well done

Perfectly answered I reckon.

[Ariella26]

Garlic powder added too thanks.

Jackian, this is a wonderful forum, I agree. I'm sure once I've actually got the chooks it'll all seem to fall into place. I have no doubt I'll be regularly trawling the forum for extra advice ( and because I enjoy reading about and looking at photos of chickens)

[Ariella26]

Just had a thought...do they need a dustbath in the run? What goes in it? Soil? Sand?

Thanks.

[brambles]

I also add fly papers (for greenhouses) in high summer. I hang a couple of strips in my tree next to the cube.

 

Please flubenvet more often, every 3-4 months, particularly on a fixed run. I have just lost a chick to sudden death linked to a parasite carried by worms. My chicken vet has advised a more regular worming programme Than I was doing (which was every 4 months) amongst other things. Touch wood, all the others are doing well.

 

I use a plastic box full of dry soil in the run, I usually put it under the cube as they seem to like it there.

 

The cube ruin in covered with clear corrugated plastic roofing. In the autumn and winter I use clear builders tarp along the outside of part of i t to shelter them from the weather.

[Leicester_H]

Just had a thought...do they need a dustbath in the run? What goes in it? Soil? Sand?

Thanks.

 

You can try - mine ignored it. You will find they develop their own little habits/styles and will mostly do as they want, not necessarily what you want !

 

H

[Ariella26]

Thanks. I'll worm them every 3 months then. How long does the flubevet last?

 

Fly tape too - are flies quite a problem in the summer?

 

Thanks.

[Leicester_H]

Fly tape too - are flies quite a problem in the summer? Thanks.

I haven't found this necessary. (Mine are scared of things hanging up !!)

Are they safe if they get eaten ??

H

[Angie]

The flubenvet 1% 60 gm tub will last six treatments of 1 level scoop in 2kg of pellets . I have just used the last of mine and that is how many treatments i have got out of it. ( new one on order from the vets.)

As for flies...well they just love lots of poo don't they ? my girls do actually eat some flies amazing as flies are pretty fast, but i agree fly papers are good, mine are high up in the wir and do attract lots, i don't know if the chucks eat the papers or not....they will have a peck at everything though won't they.