chickchock Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Well I joined here about 8 months ago....and we went on our chicken keeping course 7 months ago...and we have finally bought our Eglu! What can I say, I was holding out for an ebay bargain. To add to the very very sloooooow process we're thinking we had better hold off on buying chickens as we're having some building work done at the back of the house in the Spring and I think a calm garden might be better when they first arrive. Oh well, more time to obsessively research! Is there a universally accepted best flooring? Our run will be on grass but we won't be moving it, so I'm guessing the grass's days are numbered. I had been thinking rubber chippings but a quick search informs me these are not a good idea after all. We have an Eglu classic with a 3m run, in case that makes any difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunaKiw1 Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 (edited) I don't think the building work should prevent you taking the plunge to be honest - it might even help you cope with the stress as watching chooks is very relaxing! We started with 2 Omlet hens and a Classic and basic run. Ours was laid on just bare earth rather than grass from the start (but as your posts mentions your grass won't last anyway!). We did initially put down wood chippings but it didn't seem to be much added value. The girls loved digging in the earth and, because we did keep it well covered, we had no problems with any mud for a number of years. We poo-picked every day and used Stalasan (a powdery disinfectant) sprinked on the earth each week to help keep it sterile. We bought clear tarpaulins from Tarpaflex - I think a 2m x 2.4m one covered the 2m run perfectly when pegged down but they do all sorts of sizes. After a few years we progressed to an Omlet WIR and that was also laid on bare earth with no problems - we just got a 6m x 2m tarpauline for the top and two sides and separate ones for the front and back to make it waterproof. That all sounds really untidy looking doesn't it? But honestly, if you use bungee cords and tent pegs etc it is all kept very taut and looks neat - and you can still see the girls inside - but it also allows you to roll up the back and/or sides depending on the kind of weather to let air in so we prefer that to the perspex sheets some people use successfully. I know other people swear by different types of bedding and using slabs etc as a base and that can work too (though I think our girls would miss bare earth to dig in) - I think the key message is that you're OK with anything on the floor as long as you have the run/WIR well covered so rain is kept out. And they do like digging and making dustbaths in dry earth ....... Good luck and do take the plunge into the world of chickens! Edited February 5, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 I have a "go" with an extra long run. It is au naturel. My WIR however is slabbed. Tried play bark, it was horrible, had to dig it all out. It stank.. Do get your girls soon you'll love it. Something to get you out of the house and take your mind off things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickchock Posted February 5, 2014 Author Share Posted February 5, 2014 Thank you! I really don't want to get the chickens before the building work has finished as part of it is building a summer house in the same bit of the garden they'll be living in, so for me mainly I just want everything finished up there before setting up their home! Plus I'll need to fence it off and it will make it difficult for the workmen coming and going. If I just leave the grass will it not get really boggy and muddy? They have chickens at my daughters school just on mud and they stink! Also - this is probably a stupid question - does it not make it harder to identify the poo to pick it out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 In my opinion. I think if your having all that work done you should get a permanent base put down. I've ended up with some form of permanent base in all 3 of my chicken houses/runs. You then have a choice of many different toppings, that can either be completely raked out once a week or poo picked every day. I would however put something like a small edging fence around the run, as the girls will stratch the material all over the place good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 I wouldn't leave the grass - I'd dig it up and leave loose soil so they're able to scratch and dig themselves. If you can cover your run, you could fill it with Easibed or some other horse bedding. That really helps with poo collection as it sort of clumps and dries out and is easier to extract! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 I think covering the run is the key. Only thing is my classic run still gets wet when the wind comes in from the side. That's with an omlet waterproof cover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 hahaha - don't worry we were slow too. Got our cube before my birthday but didn't get the chickens until June - because a buff orpie was dragging her feet about laying. The other 2 were ready earlier though. Typical orpies. But with all the research we did beforehand . . . And now I've got 2 new birds on hold until the wet grass improves - the little Eglu is ready to go. New door pin from Omlet arrived this morning (goodness knows where the other one got to - the eglu run was serving as a veggie bed pigeon protector while not in use the eglu serves as a spare nesting box for cranky buff Sussex). Were going to have building work done to patio - on hold at the mo. Yep, go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
