Omlet cube and run

[Hen Fan]

We have 3 hens inside an area enclosed by the omlet fencing. link to pic

 

The problem is that the area has turned to a mud patch. There is no grass to be seen. We haven't really got an place to move them to but is it ok to keep them on this mud?

Edited October 23, 2012 by Guest

[daxigirl]

Get them some bark chippings so it's not to yukky under foot.

[Hen Fan]

I had wondered about that. Would I put the wood chippings straight down on the mud or should I lay a membrane underneath? Also, do you need to change the wood chippings from time to time?Finally, do you get the wood chippings from a B&Q or home base type place?

[heth1986]

I'd go for hardwood chip personally, it dries quickly and doesn't go mouldy / sludgy. You can get it free from alot of tree surgeons. It might also be worth thinking about putting some paving slabs down underneath your run, that way the chip wont just mix into the mud, will last a lot longer and will be easier to clean.

Hope this helps!

[chestnutmare]

I had wondered about that. Would I put the wood chippings straight down on the mud or should I lay a membrane underneath? Also, do you need to change the wood chippings from time to time?Finally, do you get the wood chippings from a B&Q or home base type place?

 

I have my bantams on my lawn. I have log/lawn edging around the run to stop wood chip coming flying out with the chickens scratching. I have the wood chip on top of a clear tarp - it's a heavy duty builder's something or another, but basically a strong, clear tarp.

 

I change the wood chipping every month or two. You'll know when to change the wood chip when it's wiffy or the chip sort of forms together.

 

I get wood chip from B&Q: "B&Q Softwood Chips Natural" (They stopped selling hard wood chips at my B&Q and I haven't noticed a difference).

[Jenthelibrarian]

The hens will do a lot of rearranging and digging about in their woodchip - we're convinced that ours have a yearning to visit Australia

 

I'd put a reasonable thickness straight onto the ground, I'm sure I read a really grim story on here about chooks scratching up membrane and swallowing threads off it

 

You will also want ground sanitising powder, chuck some down on the ground before the chips and do a regular rake-over and tidy up with an added weekly sprinkle.

 

We have a paving slab under our grub and our glug, this stops the ground under each getting really filthy. You might want the odd one at similar spots, or consider paving or concrete in the long term.

 

I buy the sort of chipped wood/bark sold in B&Q or garden centres for kids' play areas and it's been fine. We do a biggish dig-out and change about every other month and top up as necessary. It can go very soggy in heavy rain, and dusty in hot dry weather, some cover will help if you can organise it.

 

Good luck!

[daxigirl]

If you can get the bark nuggets do, my personal favourite, but they're a garden centre type thing and never on offer. Mine go down straight onto the dirt with frequent sprinkles of BioDri (powder disinfectant) and a good raking over as mentioned in above posts.

[Simondegaris]

Check out Newland Poultry Malvern online, the owner has come up with a great way using membranes etc to stop the mud and mould problewms. She mentioned to me that she had been testing on her own runs since last year and also has had a friend doing it as well and it works.

 

I have brought the set she offers and gone with the idea and am waiting to get it set up!

 

Heres the link....also if you are local to the Midlands I can say they are a brilliant friendly, well run place and very reasonable (im not on commision by the way!)

 

http://www.newlandgrange.com/CHICKEN-RUN-MUD-MANAGEMENT(1720020).htm

[Hen Fan]

Looks like wood chips it is. I absolutely love the newland poultry setup. It looks really smart. Thank you everyone for you good suggestions. I think we now have a project for half term. I will try to post some photos when its done.