beckyfitz Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 I have been reading posts for over an hour searching for some advice. I'm the proud new owner of a purple Eglu, we are planning on choosing our chooks this week. We have just had soem new turf laid & have a reasonable sized lawn. I have a patch I've left unturfed which we thought might be good for the chickens - will they mind earth & weeds? I've read a few posts & thought maybe in winter they could sit on the patio with some wood chippings to prevent getting too muddy. We plan to let them free range as much as possible anyway as we're home quite a lot (its no Wimbledon - we have two young boys!) Do you think they will like their run on dirt or do they really need grass beneath their feet? Thanks Becky XX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 Even if you put their run on grass, they'll turn it into dirt before you know it. They'll be very happy scratching around in the dirt and being let out regularly to cut the grass for you. Enjoy!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasnett Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 i'm no expert but i think most of us put our chickens on auboise..it soaks up the mess and allows them to scratch around for worms and slugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menagerie Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 I thought you meant eat dirt!! (They do need layer pellets as well!) My 'lawn' was rather patchy anyway. Some areas they are on grass and some on bare earth. Both seem fine, especially if they are allowed out some of the time to munch on the rest of your plants! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 As said above, they will enjoy digging in the dirt, but you may find it gets poopy after a while. That would be the time to add some shavings or aubiose to keep it clean and soak up the poo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 agree ... if you start out on grass, it won't be there for long! 'Dirt' is fine, but with something on top to soak up the inevitable poo - I really recommend hemcore/aubiose for this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Mine are in a big walk-in pen with the Eglu inside it. It is roofed,so stays dry. We have wood chips, but under that they have scratched the ground to a fine dusty powder. They seem to like it - they catch the odd worm & it makes for great dust bathing too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 My grass under the Eglu has now all gone (all too soon). I use Aubiose to house them on, last week when we had a decent day I dug it all out, & it really smelled . I am going to get some garden/agricultural lime to dig into the soil to help with the smell, & a tray to put under my grub to catch fallen pellets as they REALLY smell when they go off. My girls do spend most days free ranging at the bottom of the garden, though. Aubiose is great, about £7-£8 from animal feed suppliers, my local one was in a big industrial estate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Mine are on soil and love it. Ours is so sandy that anything nasty gets buried by the chickens every day. If you are on clay soil, you might be bettter advised to put something like aubiose on the ground. If your hens stay in the run most of the time, I would recommend you keep the run covered in wet weather. There is plenty of advice on this forum on the use of shower curtains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Mine are on soil and love it. Ours is so sandy that anything nasty gets buried by the chickens every day. If you are on clay soil, you might be bettter advised to put something like aubiose on the ground. Thats what we find too.Our soil is light & fine, so they turn it over really easily. I just throw some lime down evey few weeks, to keep it a bit freasher, but to be honest I think thats more for my peace of mind than for them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 I'm on clay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainboarddude Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 my chooks have a big run with a roof on, it is fine dust so any mess quickly gets covered up. they love scratching around in it catching the occasional bug or worm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Chickens don't need grass at all, everything is in the pellets/mash. I would cover the dirt with a removable layer so that it can be changed as there can be worm problems from staying on the same area of dirt. They tend to dig more and get filthy feet when on very wet mud, and it can combine with dropped food and really smell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutechicky Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Yes that should be fine! They are quite happy to roam around in the dirst, scratching and pecking! Make sure that dangerous weeds don't grow and it should all be fine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menagerie Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 I move mine around every 2-3 days, which seems to give the grass time to recover, I just rake off the poo if it's bad. I have about 7 different positions round the garden I can use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna03 Posted July 30, 2007 Share Posted July 30, 2007 I have clay soil so i have put down bark and straw and just refresh it weekly, the girls soon churn it all up. When we start getting loads of rain......in the winter! I will cover the run up with something to stop it getting too wet inside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
