Chicken bald back

[emmamakeup]

I've just had my chicken run and house placed ontop of paving slabs in the hope it will be easier to keep clean. I've used aubiose for about 6 months now and happy with it but it gets everywhere! I realise that by not having a skirt around the base of the run this will of course not help matters

 

It's humid and now realising that there are lots of flies. I've been raking up and replenishing the aubiose every few days as just gets smelly. I pick out poo from the droppings tray every day and do try to keep up with things.

 

I've ordered a sack of hemcore (given that it's got citronella in it). Does this help? I've also ordered some stalosan to sprinkle over and around the run.

 

My other debate was to whether replace the floor run covering with rubber chippings but have heard mixed reviews on this idea. I tried wood chips but found it was even more smelly and heavy work when replenishing the stuff.

 

I've had decking built around the chicken house and run so am considering planting in pots some lemongrass, basil and lavendar - any other ideas greatly received!

[Egluntyne]

Re the rubber chippings - don't! You will end up with a stinking mess. There are several threads on here where this has been mentioned. Also they are expensive, and a nightmare to shift when you decide to get rid of them.

 

I've been using wood shavings recently, as Aubiose and Hemcore aren't always easy to get hold of, and both I and the hens get on alright with them. Not as quick to compost as the hemp products, but that's all.

[Jenthelibrarian]

Our run is on bark chip. We rake out/hose/replace/Net-Tex but have noticed loads of flies in the recent heat.

 

I have bought a Red-top fly trap and am both amazed and disgusted by the huge numbers of flies now in there, it certainly works, but you'd think we'd trapped the entire fly population of the county

 

I have also bought citronella and eucalyptus oils [£1.50 each via Ebay] and set upturned terracotta pots with drops of these oils in the corners around the hens. I think they are evaporating very quickly in the heat and it's hard to tell if they do repell flies, but if visitors are likely in my garden I will top them up as they do give off a nice 'clean' smell around the hens.

 

We're FR-ing as much as we can and I'm trying to poop-pick off the 'grass' [it's all brown and crispy ] and hose in the squishy ones to deter the flies.

 

I think if anyone knew to secret of total fly-prevention they'd have shared it on here by now

[The Dogmother]

Aubiose all the way. I have some green plastic lawn edging (cheap stuff on a roll) cable-tied around the bottom of the run to keep the litter inside the run.

[Patricia W]

Aubiose for me too. I tried bark chippings but they were the smelliest of all. I have my runs covered and on earth so the poo seems to miraculously disappear. When I remove it (every 2 months or so) I sterilise the soil with Stalosan and use lime too. I've used lawn edging in the past, but find it breaks so for the new Omlet run, I invested in log roll which works much better and looks good.

[WitchHazel]

I actually prefer the texture of Aubiose. It's softer and the bits are smaller than with the Hemcore. In the nest boxes, all year round, I use Aubiose.

 

In the walk-in run, in the summer, I use HempBedE because it has Eucalyptus bits in it. I tried this when Hemcore was unavailable, and found it worked quite well. Initially the Girls tried to eat the Eucalyptus, but they don't bother now. ; If I can't get HempBedE in summer, I use Hemcore because of the Citronella.

 

In the winter, I use Aubiose everywhere. It's a much nicer product to handle.

 

You can always make up a spray bottle with citronella oil, and spray your Aubiose each day or two.

[Eggasperated]

I use Rapport in my houses, it's softer than Hemcore and also treated with Citronella, although I do find the size of pieces in it varies enormously from bag to bag. I see they are also making a Flax product - don't know what that will be like.

[KimmyCustard]

I use Aubiose in the Cube but I also mix Bio Dry in with the Aubiose under the roosting bars, makes the poo dry up quickly so the flies arent interested!

 

Another vote for a Red Top fly catcher, theyre brilliant, one is about £10 and will last all summer, hang away from the run so they go to the trap and not into the run to get to the trap. Then tip onto the compost heap once full!

[emmamakeup]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Going to stick with aubiose. Might get a fly catcher too. I used a good handful if stalosan in the run and once I have received my citronella oil will spray some of that around in a puffer bottle diluted.

[Chickabee]

I use old paving slabs in my walk in run. Currently using chopped straw on top. It's easy to sweep out and doesn't get too smelly. The hens like diggin around in it and use it like a dust bath. You can also easily hose the slabs. I also use bio dry from time to time . Haven't noticed too many flies (fingers crossed)