HELP aggressive chicken

[st3phani3]

Hi fellow chook collectors.

 

This is my first time on this site with a question so hope you can help? I need to move my classic off the grass as the rain is making the run lethal for the chooks and me. I have a mo"Ooops, word censored!"lock patio and was thinking of puting the classic plus run on that, until the better weather comes along.Is it woodchip, hardwood chippings or is it another kind of woodbase I have to get that does not go mouldy or create spores? Urgent replies needed as I am desperate.

[mollyripkim]

Hi

Welcome to the forum.

Assuming you have brick paving you can use hardwood chippings (not softwood or bark as this will create the mould spores). Just bear in mind you will have water seeping in at the sides but with hardwood chips it is not such a problem. If your run is covered you could also try aubiose (or something similar) which you can get from horse suppliers or Countrywide/Omlet. I did have mine on aubiose on brick paviers but it got wet so quick that I changed to woodchip which is much longer lasting. Its dearer to start with but lasts a long time, mine has been down since October, I rake and sprinkle in Stalasan once a week and will probably change it all in the spring.

[st3phani3]

Hi there Mollyripkim

Thanks for your reply. The run is not covered (i.e a WIR) Although I think it will be soon. I am now trawling through the internet to find a good supplier of chicken run suitable chips, hopefully based in/around Edinburgh. If any Edinburgers out there know of a local supplier then please post away.

[good_egg]

I have ordered from flyte so fancy as cant find anywhere for hardwood chips (b&q stopped) but if you want easibed or aubiose type them drum feeds is good. Let me know if you find somewhere!

[Alis girls]

i am confused as recently someone suggested undyed softwood for in my run. Now they say hardwood. I have purchased sofwood as am not a fan of the chicken swamp look.

[Mrs_B]

Welcome to the forum!

 

I know exactly what you mean about the mud - it's been vile in my garden this year! My runs are covered, but the space the hens free ranged in became saturated and very slippery, so I ended up keeping the girls in their runs to try and keep them as mud-free as possible!

 

First of all, if you need wood chip I would recommend Bark UK. They have a really good deal if you buy bulk (15 bags) and delivery is quick and easy! I have bought two lots of hard wood chip and the product is excellent.

 

http://www.bark-uk.co.uk/

 

If you are looking at putting your chickens back onto grass, Newland Poultry have come up with a great method of making a specific area mud-free:

 

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

 

I did this to both my runs and different FR sections and it's been amazing! I plan on doing this when my new WIR is built. It's cleaned of nasties by hosing it all down and it all gets washed through into the ground (or I take the covers off over night if a lot of rain is guaranteed - this saves water so I don't have to hose it all!) I change the wood chip every 5-6 months and use Stalosan regularly and Virkon S dissolved in water (watering can) also works well with this mud free method.

 

Hope this helps

 

x

[heth1986]

Have you considered contacting a local tree surgeon?

 

Alot of them have to pay to get rid of all their woodchippings and would be more than happy for you to come and scoop some up... my locals came and dumped a full load on my drive for me when I built my WIR!

 

If you can sort a day with them when they're close by to you and chopping fruit trees then the run will smell divine

[Alis girls]

Went into bark uk and found some very nice coats - not correct site -but will have a look at coats later. i will ask our local tree guy and see if hes got any bark.