Chicken boarders

[sarahelliott]

slushy mud

that describes my current set up for my girls and we all hate it. it began with 4, a WIR and a sectioned off bit of garden of their own..full of lush grass, i might add. quickly four became six, so we bought an extra house with the intention of keeping them seperate ( new girls were young when we got them! ) sadly, six became four again and so i hope to merge them together to have all four in the WIR (old girls' territory)

because..... im hoping to use the 'spare' house for banties this summer

 

my problem is the mud - due to england's recent weather issues the mud is so thick out there that me + the girls just dont enjoy spending time together. they would rather be in their cosy houses and i'd rather be watching corrie. i was wondering what everyones set ups are like (pics would be GREAT!) - maybe i should woodchip the whole area? - i want it to look 'pretty' out there again before i get my new ladies, and not like a pig sty.

(they do get FR time in the 'big garden' but not too much as i dont want that being mud as well!)

 

Many thanks for your help / ideas. i can add photos of what it looks like if that would help!

[chick wiggle]

Well your set up sounds similar to mine, wir and very, VERY muddy fr area.

Im getting some woodchip to put down to hopefully make it a bit better for me and the chooks.

A little tip if you do go down the woodchip route, search google for tree surgeons in your area. Ive found one that 'donates' woodchip! Free! Much cheaper than £6-7 a bag from the garden centre

[sarahelliott]

some photos of what it currently looks like!

 

small house (for derek + millie) - but soon to be banties, maybe..

 

view from the side of the big WIR

 

behind derek + millie's house

 

more mud

 

WIR and little house.

 

so you can see how run down it looks.. just blerghh. it needs an update!

[Plum]

What about dividing it in half and reseeding. You could put down some of that plastic for the grass to grow through and then they won't scratch it again except the bits you want.

[sarahelliott]

@ chick wiggle -

not sure how to go about woodchipping the entire area - presumably i will have to flatten the land (make it all even) - will i need mulch sheet uner the wood chips, otherwise they will mix in with the mud? or is mulch sheet not a good idea as the ladies claws will rip it... hmm. not sure.

[chick wiggle]

To be honest Sarah, im just gonna chuck it down on the mud, a good thick layer should last a while and hopefully fill in some of the craters the girls have dug!

Im gonna give it all a really good dusting with garden lime or stalosan beforehand though! and hopefully that should see them through to next winter at least