Solitary chicken - need advice

[Ladylil]

So, I've (almost!) completed my WIR improvements. The girls have a lovely layer of Aubiose on top of the compacted earth, it's clean and smelling sweet. I have some questions however from you experienced aubiose using chicken owners

 

Do your girls scratch down to the earth and kick it back up? Or will this improve with time I.e the more it's walked on the more compacted it becomes.

How do you poo pick when they kick it every where and therefore cover the poo?

How do you keep the water clean?

 

I'm going to have to add a plinth at the doorway as they have kicked sooo much out already, I've cleared it up 3 times today!

 

[The Dogmother]

Just put a kickboard round the outside (I used corrugated plastic lawn edging) and let them get on with it.

 

Poo pick???? I just heave it out and replace when it looks manky.

[jennie186]

Hi just done my WIR with aubiose on top of sand.

I hung up the water holder on a chain from roof.

Put a kick board around base to keep aubiose in.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

You don't actually want it to become compacted. It's much better if it stays loose then they can kick and scratch it about and it'll stay drier (most of the poo will magically disappear but you can poo pick the obvious ones!)

[The Dogmother]

Your drinker and feeder will need to be suspended level with the hens' backs.

[jimnpaula]

Do your girls scratch down to the earth and kick it back up? Or will this improve with time I.e the more it's walked on the more compacted it becomes.

How do you poo pick when they kick it every where and therefore cover the poo?

How do you keep the water clean?

~ My wir is on slabs and they do dig down to them.

~ Mine does get compacted down and needs a garden implement to break it up and redistribute it again, worse in the damp weather.

~ Poo pick? Don't bother, clean out when it looks dirty.

~ Water and food up on a bench or hanging on the walls.

 

P

[Luvachicken]

Loving your run and the photos.

I really like the high up perches for them to sit on.

[keyhole kate]

Yup mine are on slabs with aubiose my run is covered and has tarp sides through winter or raining food and water dish are suspended from roof I don't poo pick either I just do a big clean when it looks manky I then use it on my allotment. Freecycleers will come and collect if you don't have a use it's like gold dust on an allotment

[The Dogmother]

True.... my friends who farm organically come to collect any excess chicken manure I have, and return with bags for fresh, seasonal veggies

[Ladylil]

Thanks everyone. Their water is on top of 2 layers of brick but they are still managing to kick Aubiose into the water. I like the suggestion of putting the water on a bench, will see if I can find one somewhere.

 

My run is covered, roughly how long would you expect the Aubiose to last before needing to be cleared out? I used 1 and a half bales in a 10 x 7ft run.

 

Loving your run and the photos.

I really like the high up perches for them to sit on.

thanks. It was a little painful but got there in the end, I just hope they don't suddenly collapse!

[Ladylil]

Thought this would be quite good for keeping the bedding in http://www.wickes.co.uk/border-edging-30cmx1m/invt/158380/ I guess it would be tall enough?

[Guest]

My drinkers are on kitchen unit bases (the bottom of the unit and legs only). For anyone with a slightly uneven run floor I strongly recommend the kitchen unit thing, use the type with adjustable legs and voila a nice level table which is pretty easy to wipe down or you can wrap it in sticky backed plastic.

 

The first couple of weeks the aubiose is down I poo pick thoroughly but then I get a bit lax so just rake it then give it a sprinkle of biodri. Once the aubiose gets wet or looks mucky I tend to swap it, the used stuff goes onto the flowerbeds as a mulch.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Thought this would be quite good for keeping the bedding in http://www.wickes.co.uk/border-edging-30cmx1m/invt/158380/ I guess it would be tall enough?

 

You'd be paying for something that is over-engineered for your purposes! I also don't think it would necessarily keep it all in - it could also cost you quite a lot depending on the size of your run!

 

What about some offcuts of laminate flooring or planks, or some rigid plastic cut into deep strips?

[Ladylil]

My run is about 10 x 7ft ANH, however two of the sides is 6ft fencing. I've bought one of these for the doorway as it's nice and tall at 30cm. They've kicked tonnes of the bedding out of the doorway today (the door is left open as they have access to a netted run all day) so thought I could have it for the doorway only and use something cheaper (or free!) for the rest of the sides.