Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[Matt F]

Hi everyone,

 

This is my first post and thanks to everyone who has contributed to this forum, there’s some really brilliant advice!

 

We are new to this and deciding where our chucks will live. We have a lovely area in front of the kitchen window and conservatory that used to be a single garage. Here's a photo:

 

 

We are thinking about installing a walk-in run in this area, with an Eglu classic inside for maybe 3 or 4 chickens.

 

The area appears to have a concrete floor, with pea gravel on top of this. There is a step down onto the pea gravel which means it’s well contained.

 

Ideally I would like to use the existing pea gravel for the run, with a large flower pot for a dirt bath! The pea gravel seems to drain well so I am hoping that hosing it down regularly will be enough to keep it clean enough and stop any nasty odours building up? Is this realistic or will we need to use something else?

 

If we need to use wood chips, we will need to build a smaller run with a roof. If we can stick with the existing pea gravel and hose down regularly we’ll be able to build a larger run with part mesh, part translucent roofing (for shelter).

 

Any ideas or advice much appreciated! Anyone else keep their chucks on pea gravel or small stones?

 

Many thanks

Matt

[Matt F]

Whoops photo doesn't seem to have worked, please see following address:

 

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z419/fibresafe/photoleft.jpg

 

Thanks!

[Cinnamon]

It sounds & looks like a nice spot!

They will appreciate those brick walls when the weather is bad.

 

Personally I am not a fan of gravel for hen run flooring as it will get grubby & smelly.

If you were to remove it & put deep Aubiose or similar on top of the concrete flooring,that would be great,but the run will need to be roofed ideally.

Aubiose is soft,very absorbant,natural & biodegradable. It will need removing a replacing about every 3 months or so....& you will get some wonderful mulch for your garden

 

Think about an old car or bike tyre half filled with dry soil for the dustbath,as the shape of it keeps the soil much more contained.

[poppy ben grace]

Hi, welcome to the forum! It looks like a great area to keep hens in, very pretty with the wall. It will be nice and sheltered for the girls when you get them. I havent any experience of keeping hens on gravel but dont see any reason it wont work, if anything it should be better as it will have good drainage. Good luck with it all, we will want to see pictures when you get set up!

[Cinnamon]

Another thing with gravel is that they will eat it & it may be hard or sharp on their feet.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum . You need to have racked up 6 or so posts before you can post images so I'll just put it here so we can all see it easily!

 

That's a great spot and nice and sheltered. I agree with Cinnamon, you'd be better with horse bedding (I use Easibed) but you do need to have your run covered. The hens are quite happy dustbathing in the bedding if it's kept dry, so there's no hurry to make a special dustbath for them!

 

For inspiration and ideas, check out the Eglus, Cubes & Runs section.

 

[Eggasperated]

That looks a lovely spot, with all the advice on this forum it should be a really good area for chickens. Shall look forward to seeing photos of work in progress .

[Matt F]

Thanks very much for your answers and advice. Looks like a smaller walk-in run with a roof and horse bedding is the way to go. Now to design the run, so off to the 'Eglu Cubes and Runs' section!

 

Thanks again

Matt

[Duncan08]

That is a lovely spot!

I agree with the others, providing you have a good roof on top and have some cover at the sides in the worst of the wet weather then I would go for Easibed on top of the gravel. It was recommended to me on this site and has worked really really well.

I put a good thick layer down on top of the gravel and whislt the girls have scatched up the gravel and mixed it up a bit it really helps to keep them clean and dry, aborbs Poops really well, so easy to just get in with them with some rubber gloves and spend a quick couple of minutes picking it out. And as ANH says the girls are really happy to dustbathe in it in this lousy wet weather when they can't get onto the soil.

I did buy them a dustbath and filled it with some playsand and soil, but to be honest they havent gone near it.

We have Easibed in the run and use Auboise in the poo trays and bottom of nesting box.

 

My only other comment would be, if you could possibly run to it, I would heartily recommend going for a cube. I originally had a but after getting my it is absolutely brilliant, so much easier to keep clean. And will accomodate more girls as the dreaded morehens attacks.