Cube Mark One Run

[calmbreeze]

hi we have a large enclosed run for our birds - about 5x4 meters. whilst we are around they are out free-ranging, but we are in the countryside so they have to be inside the run when we arent able to keep an eye out.

 

because of the recent poor weather the run is now pretty much mud. my question is what would be the bset covering for this - some people have said horse bedding some say gravel and some wood chip / bark?

 

i wondered if anyone can help with what is best etc

 

thanks in anticipation!!

[Chortle Chook]

Before I gave up on my wee run and let my chooks out to FR in my garden for good, I found gravel the easiest for outside their house. I did try sand but my chooks HATED it from day one to the extent that they tried to go round the run to their house with their feet off the ground clinging to the wire mesh of the run. I did feel bad

 

I think that both horse bedding (such as aubiose) and wood chips would quickly become a soggy mess unless you had something over the top of your run such as a tarpaulin or shower curtain.

[Henslaved]

I think a roof over the run would be best, if you can .

[lindafw]

once you sort out your bedding (I know nothing about such as I don't use it) may I suggest purchasing a tarpaulin to cover your run to keep out some of the rain?

[sparkysmum]

Hi calmbreeze. I can imagine that it would be impractical to attempt to cover a 5m x 4m run in which case the usual horsey type bedings are out. I have an aquaintance who covers her extremely large run in pea sized gravel. As I say the run is huge( probably the size of my whole garden ) & impossible to cover & the gravel seems quite deep, certainly a couple of inches. This is not by any means cheap but on the occassions I have seen it, it has been immaculate and not at all whiffy or poo-ey. Her hens seem very happy and clean. No mud to be seen Hope this helps Alli x

[Sandychick]

Mine have a second run which isn't covered - it's clay soil here which can get very soggy. I've tried various things, but I've settled on bark chips. I just rake it over each week, then top it up with a fresh layer if it looks a bit of a mess. In spring, I dig it out and distribute it around the flower beds - it's fantastically smelly underneath the top layers, but makes your plants grow like triffids, particularly roses.

[Cheeky Chooky]

I bought Hardwood Wood Chips from Flyte so Fancy and have a deep layer of leaves on top of them...the run is covered with clear tarpaulins and it's all working really well at the moment