3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[craig99]

Hi, I'm getting my first hens in less than 2 weeks time and want to get the eglu and 3m run all set up and ready for when they arrive. My garden is just mud and I was thinking of putting wood chips on top of the mud in the run. The run will be completely sheltered to limit the amount of moisture that gets in to the run.

 

Firstly, does this sound like a good idea?

Secondly, does anyone have any better suggestions?

Thirdly, if wood chip is the way to go, where do I buy it from? I can't find it anywhere!!

 

Also, could someone tell me how to make a good dust bath. I have an old car tire, but what should I fill it with?

 

Look forward to hearing your suggestions.

 

Craig

[mabelandflosmum]

I have successfully used wood chips for years, they can be bought in most DIY shops, the last lot I had came from Wickes.

It may be called chipped bark.

They can be emptied out of the run every so often and put on the garden, my roses love them, or you can compost them.

I use a powder called Stalosan sprinkled on the chips once a week to keep things fresh but I have 4 mucky chickens!

I use potting compost in the dust bath, they love it and try to squash in together, it's hilarious to watch them!

[Cheeky Chooky]

I also use Stalosan every week on the floor of the run and use Hardwood Woodchips from Flyte so Fancy, along with lots of lovely leaves...the run is covered with clear tarpaulins and stays dry and remarkably clean! I use a mixture of compost, play sand and Diatom in their dustbath, which they all love having a go in

[chestnutmare]

Are you thinking of putting the car tyre in the run? If so that's going to take up some room, will it even fit? I use a shallow tubtrug bucket for the dustbath, a mixture of bird sand, compost and some Diatom or lice powder works a treat - they love it. I couldn't get them to dustbath for ages. Then I added compost and they all dived in!

I used hard wood chips for ages (not bark) then I was struggling to get them. So now I use Rapport (Google it if you so wish) which I am equally as happy with.

[craig99]

Thank you for all the advise! Has triad Cozy Coop in the run?

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/poultry-chicken-bedding-50ltr-by-cozy-coop-24601

 

It looks like it could be quite good.

 

I had a look at Rapport. That looks like a good option too, but should I put that straight on to the mud or should I line the mud with something first?

 

The car tire I have is quite small. I will try it in the run at first but if it doesn't work out I'll swap it for something smaller and leave it outside for when they free range.

[Duncan08]

Hi Craig,

Some people use stable matting under the bedding, have a look at the Eglus, Cubes and Runs threads.

Do you have a cube or a classic/go?

Are you going to keep it in one place or move it about? If it is going to stay in one place, I have a thick layer of gravel underneath my bedding.

The classic/Go runs are quite hard to get into to clean out properly and once extended get harder to move, especially on your own.

If you are using horsey type bedding, (I use Easibed) then you will need to add some sort of kickboard around the bottom or your girls will just kick it all out. You should also look to cover the run to keep it dry.

 

I bought my girls a dustbath (Cat Litter tray) from Omlet, they ignored it, if they are FRing then they will love a roll around in your flower beds

[craig99]

Thank you for the advise. I think the gravel sounds like a good idea. I'll look in to that. I have a Classic that is going to stay in the same place. I did wonder how easy it would be to clean out. I may have to just move the run in order to clean it out properly. There'll be 2 of us doing it so it shouldn't be too bad moving it around to clean. I have a full length cover to protect the run from the rain so hopefully that'll keep it nice and dry.

 

Why is that people suggest not to use bark chippings?

[chestnutmare]

I like to sweep and completely re-place so gravel wouldn't suit me - I never want anything but concrete now I have it, I used to put woodchip straight onto the ground. I think you'll need some type of kick board along your Eglu no matter what bedding/chip you use. I use Rapport for my horses, I've tried every horse bedding going and in my opinion, nothing beats Rapport.

I used to have lawn edging for my Eglu run.

This used to be my set up, before the WIR:-