Doris Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 Hi everyone, I'm back again for more words of wisdom! I have had my pullets for 5 weeks now, they are 12 weeks old and I can't believe how much they have grown. They even sounds like grown up chickens now. I am a bit obssessed with my ladies but it has paid off as they are now really cheeky following me around the garden and trying to get into the house. One even jumped up on my lap last week and you only have to shake the mealworm tub to have them running from wherever they are. The neighbours are fascinated by them too. As the weather has deteriorated I brought them off the lawn because it is a heavy clay soil which gets waterlogged very easily. So, on Saturday we put a tarpaulin over the patio, sprinkled it with net tex and filled the eglu run with most of a bale of aubiose. My husband cable tied two lengths of wood up each side of the run (inside) to keep as much in as possible and the whole thing is covered with a clear 3x4m tarpaulin. Simpls, or so I thought! I expected the open end to get damp and I did cover the bottom half of the open end. It is now Tuesday and so we have had 3 days of rain. When I went to rake the aubiose over tonight (for the first time) I realised that although the top layer is dry the underneath is wet. Is this considered normal? I don't want to compromise their health and I thought I would be able to get away with clearing the run & replacing every few weeks (ideally 3). I'm now thinking that I need to get rid of all the aubiose in there and start again. The tarp was folded in half so would it be better to open it out fully and fold it up over the skirts, then cable tie it to each side of the run and then have the clear tarp coming down over that? I'm so cross with myself and because of work commitments the only day that I can do this now is Sunday - who knows if the weather will allow it. If you've got to the end of my post you deserve a medal!! p.s. - I am now pregnant, I am using gloves and a dust mask when dealing with the net tex and DE but are there any other precautions I should take (or just get my husband to do it???). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 You really need to cover the whole run if you use aubiose. It is worth it, especially if we are to have wet weather again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doris Posted September 17, 2013 Author Share Posted September 17, 2013 Thank you for replying Patricia W. It really only was a small area at the door end that was open because I was so worried that my girls would suffocate. I honestly thought that I have the top and the sides covered all the way down. Does the aubiose 'wick' fluid? Would people who use eglu runs (no option of a walk in run right now) and covers be kind enough to post any pictures for me so I can work out how to cover the front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 I wonder if it's the fact that it's on the patio on a tarp that is causing your problem. There's nowhere for the water to go. This is my setup from years ago before I got my WIR - it got slightly damp at the edges but it wasn't really a problem as the girls would scratch the dry stuff about and it all mixed together. I did take a long hoe to the edges occasionally if it was particularly wet. I never covered the front but you could have corrugated plastic sticking out like a kind of awning. Perhaps if you removed the tarp underneath, the rain might drain away through the slabs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 I suspect it's the tarp underneath, preventing it from draining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doris Posted September 17, 2013 Author Share Posted September 17, 2013 Thank you both. I thought the tarp would stop the water running down/through the run and therefore keep the aubise dry. I'm just so confused now! If I put the run straight onto the patio & covered it well surely the aubiose would still get wet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 It might still get slightly damp at the edges but if the water could drain away, it would have a chance to dry out (and the girls kicking it about would help too). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doris Posted September 17, 2013 Author Share Posted September 17, 2013 Thank you again for replying. I will buy a new bale tomorrow and if I get the chance we will whip the tarp out tomorrow night. Thank you for posting the pic too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 Yes, it's the tarp underneath as the others have said - if you have a dry day, then rake out the Aubiose and sprinkle it with ground sanitising powder and let it dry, then use again. I had some youngsters on the patio last winter and they were dry as anything with a clear tarp over the top of the eglu run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
