David

[Doris]

Hi all, this is my first post in the Omlet forums and it's probably going to be a long one so I apologise now. I thought that had done all my research before getting my chickens but I now have more questions and it would be nice to hear other peoples opinions.

 

I bought an Eglu via Gumtree a few months ago and had planned to rehome 3 ex battery hens from the BHWT, I went onto the waiting list and the next rehoming day in my area was 5 weeks away. I decided to get hens as I found out that a couple nearby had some and I realised that it could be done in a small garden (if you are reading this and recognise me, Hi! Thank you again for all of your advice). However, just over a week before the rehoming day was due to happen we had to have one of our cats put to sleep, she appeared to become very ill very quickly and was diagnosed with end stage lymphoma. Unfortunately the vets bill was rather large and we'd not insured her so I decided to postpone the BHWT rehoming as I was worried that I may need to sell the Eglu on - we've had a rubbish year for cars breaking down etc and it was tempting fate not to.

 

Since then I decided that Bantams might be an easier option in my small garden and now have 3 bantams (cuckoo marans) which were hatched on the 21st June so are around 7 weeks old. We have had them 5 days now and although we have a 1m run extension for the moment they seem fine with 2m.

 

Originally I had planned to dig out an area in the garden (clay soil), fill it with gravel for drainage and then cover with membrane and a deep layer of woodchip. I changed my mind when I got these young pullets and put them on the patio with a layer of compost and woodchip (could only get softwood) to start with but quickly decided that it was not my best idea. The compost seemed very damp and they compacted it down with their feet although it was lovely to be able to watch them from the sofa!

 

They are now merrily scratching up my lawn and the run is being moved daily. This is fine for now but I don't want to be doing it when we have dark nights and it is raining hard, especially the poo picking! So here is where I am looking for advice....

 

In the winter I am thinking that they would be better on the patio as I can access them without ruining my boggy lawn and slipping in the mud. I have 2 1/2 sacks left of softwood chippings and have since bought a bale of Aubiose. My current thinking is to put a layer of aubiose over a layer of wood chip and change half of it (probably) weekly. I have bought a 2x3m clear tarpaulin which covers the run completely leaving the end open for ventilation - do other people cover the sides completely to keep the bedding dry? I have both the summer and winter covers but it's nice to be able to see them and the rain seems to come in at the sides.

 

I would prefer not to dig out an area of the lawn as we are hoping to be able to put the house on the market at some point and would like to keep the lawn intact if possible. Failing that we will dig it and offer to returf if needed. I have a huuuuuuuge bag of gravel as we are digging out another area of garden so can use some of that if we were to site the run on the lawn. My feeling is that having them on the patio in the winter would also help to keep their feet dry.

 

So, in your experience, if you were me would you go for patio or dig out the lawn for the winter?

 

Thank you if you got to the end of this!

[Doris]

Sorry, I meant to also say that they will be allowed to free range when we are at home (evenings and weekends) once they are bigger and also when they are more used to us.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome . You have a similar dilemma to many people who are starting out!

 

I would suggest trying the patio option over the winter (which will probably be here before we know it ). At least there's no harm done if you find you don't like it (unlike your lawn if you went down that route) and you could then try something different, assuming you aren't moving house by then.

 

When I had an eglu run, I attached some narrow plastic sheeting along the bottom edge of the run to keep the rain out but also keep the bedding in.

[Patricia W]

Hi, welcome. Your babatams sound lovely.

 

You have a lot more options if you keep the run covered. I have one eglu run covered by a tarp from tarpaflex, and another with the clear corrugated sheets from Wickes. Both work. I also do as ANH does and have a barrier round the run to stop the aubiose falling out too much. Both my runs are on soil with a layer of aubiose. Aubiose is like magic and the poos disappear! I change it every 6-8 weeks and just brush it out. Then I use Stalosan F and lime on the dry soil and replace.

I move the eglu's only occasionally ( about every 12-18monts)).

 

Alternatively you could put them on the patio, and/or have them on a slabbed area in the garden. The trouble with moving them around is they destroy everything as they go!

[Doris]

Thank you both for your replies. I hadn't thought about the trying the patio first from the point of view of nothing to lose! When I initially put them on the patio I did attach a strip along the bottom of the run to keep the wood chip in. It did work but I stupidly used some membrane I had which was woven so it was swiftly removed when I saw the chickens pulling at it! I've been moving the run daily for now but am running out of lawn and it's impressive the damage they can do in just one day!

 

Patricia W, can I just ask, how much free ranging do your chickens get? Mine are likely to be mostly in the run as we are out at work, so only in the evenings (depending on light) - are yours out and about more? Reading that you change the aubiose every 6-8 weeks makes me think they are. Do you 'poo pick' at all inbetween? If I could get away with changing the whole lot monthly I'd be very happy.

 

I am planning to order some Stalosan but am a bit confused, some of the things that I have read say that you put it down and cover it with the bedding, others say put it down and then sweep everythiing away the next day.

 

The clear tarp that I have covers right down both sides of the run - it's huge, which will keep it all dry as long as they are well ventilated with the end open I'm presuming thats fine?

 

Thanks again!!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

You just sprinkle Stalosan about liberally (buy some of those B&Q dustmasks or you'll end up inhaling it!). I don't bother digging it in as the chickens happily do that for you!

 

One end open will be fine for ventilation. Just watch for hot days (should be safe enough now!) so that it doesn't turn into a greenhouse and they overheat.

[Doris]

Wonderful. Thank you! Whilst the weather is still reasonably warm I have been watching the weather forecasts very carefully so I don't have a soggy dustbath or overheated chickens.

[Patricia W]

Hi Doris,

 

Basically, they are out all day on alternate days. Phillip and his 2 wives who are in one Eglu come out one day as soon as I get round to it, then are shut up at about 6. Then the next day, Babs and Joy come out. The reason for alternating them is that Babs is bullied badly by the 2 wives, ( to the point of near death on one occasion) and this happens with any other hens I've ever tried to mix her with. The only one she is not bullied by is her sister, Joy, so after months and months of trying and failing to find another solution, the two groups live separately.