БАНК-НЕВА - кредиты, подарки и личные отношения

[nutterly_uts]

I have located where I want to put my eglu with normal sized run, but it needs to be static, and easy to clean. I am thinking of doing something involving slabs and the link-a-board but I am wondering a few things

 

a) If I slab and link-a-board, can I still do a thick layer of something for them to scratch in?

b) what is the best "something" to use. The eglu run will only be tarped up in the winter so needs to cope with a bit of rain inbetween cleans, which I don't want to have to do more then once every 3/4 weeks (daily poo picking aside..)

c) will I need to make the base slightly tilted so any water can drain off, or will it soak into whatever I use (and will this make it smelly?

 

Thanks

I'm sorry if that is vague, but I can sort-of-but-not-really mentally picture it and explaining is hard!

[Patricia W]

You will need to put something down for them to scratch in if you slab it. I'd recommend aubiouse every time, alternatively wood chip BUT you do need to cover it all year round. Uncovered runs become unusable whatever you use on the base.

 

I have slabs round the outside and then bare earth in the middle covered with aubious n all my runs. I have them all covered with tarps or the clear perspex sheets held on by bungees that you get from Wickes. It works very well.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I have slabs round the outside and then bare earth in the middle covered with aubious n all my runs. I have them all covered with tarps or the clear perspex sheets held on by bungees that you get from Wickes. It works very well.

That's exactly what I had when I had the eglu plus run. Worked very well for me too. You can leave it uncovered during good spells of weather but be prepared to rush out with your cover and bungees at a moment's notice . Using garden lime and a powdered disinfectant regularly helps to avoid dampness and smells.

 

Not sure about tilting the base - I suppose there would be no harm if it's easily done.

 

I have a similar setup with my WIR - slabs round the edge and soil/Easibed in the middle.

[nutterly_uts]

Its just a standard eglu run (think I have the 1m extension but its in the shed currently so not sure!)

I can cover it but it won't be with more then what it comes with - will it need to be covered all summer too?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Really depends on the weather. Best to be prepared!

[Patricia W]

I found the covers that came with the eglu didn't work. So I bought a clear plastic tarp from tarpaflex and fastened with bungees. Another one I've covered with the Wickes clear plastic sheets ( rigid ones). They were about £5 each and I needed 2. Again I used bungees to fasten them on.

 

As chickens lack the brain power to decide to go INSIDE the eglu unless its minus 10 and/or snowing, they just stand around getting wet - hence the need for the cover.