Solitary chicken - need advice

[lovelyelm]

Hello fello Eglu people! I have had my Egly Go Up with a standard 2m run for a month and have been moving it from patch to patch weekly in the garden to save the lawn. However, we've decided to create a static area now (as the lawn is looking like a patchwork quilt) and have woodchip underfoot. My main question is how do you 'muck out' or what is your cleaning routine? Chickens do produce alot of poop!!

[DaisyAndBobby]

We have the 1.8x1.8m Low rise WIR. I use wood chip, on top of a weed matting and turf protector netting. We have two hens.

 

We used to poo pick in the old GO run (on grass, but not for long!), but in this we hardly ever bother. One every couple of weeks I just spray/blast the whole area of woodchips down with a hose after picking out any bike and offensive piles of poo. Give it a good rake over, spray again, and then a quick dusting of Stalosan F. It takes maybe 20mins at a leisurely pace.

 

The spraying breaks up any poo and cleans the wood chip and the powder seems to do a good job of sanitising and keeping the area smelling OK. We have no issues with flies or anything like that, and no smells.

 

So pretty easy really. I have the woodchip quite deep though, 4 or 5 inches, and they enjoy digging holes and picking for any bugs making their way in, or any scratch that I might occasionally throw in.

 

I loosely followed this guide, but built my wooden skirt INSIDE the run to stop them kicking the chips out with their digging. http://www.newlandpoultry.com/index.php/2014-01-31-22-04-44/chicken-run-mud-management

 

Here are some photos of our finished setup

 

 

 

Hope that helps.

[lovelyelm]

Thank you - this is VERY helpful! I have found poo-picking in the Go Up Run a bit of a nightmare - crawling around on your hands and knees in poop is no fun! It looks like you have a lovely set-up for your girls, dust bath and all!!

[DaisyAndBobby]

Yeah, poo picking was a nightmare in the original GO run. I'd thought it would be easier in the WIR, but then due to extra size and how the turn it over it's hardly needed anyway. If I go out in the morning and there's a particularly huge deposit near the door I do tend to treat them and scoop it out though

 

The dust bath was my wifes idea and they love it.

[Cat tails]

I agree, poo picking is near impossible under the Go Up.

 

I have a Go Up on bare earth. I recently dug the whole thing out and put in some slabs and bricks under ground to prevent them digging out or too deep.

I just rake over the whole thing once in a while to fill up any wholes.

[lovelyelm]

Has anyone tried these slabs as a base for a static run? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/24-x-GRASS-GRID-Black-Plastic-Paving-Driveway-Turf-Gravel-Protector-Drainage-Mat-/231231255236?hash=item35d674f2c4

 

I thought the bugs would be able to come up through quite easily but it would stop the ground srom turning into a quagmire!?!?

[Cat tails]

I think someone has used something similar and I have been looking at them as well. My biggest concern is that those edges are quite sharp when they dig down to them.

[daverave]

Has anyone tried these slabs as a base for a static run? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/24-x-GRASS-GRID-Black-Plastic-Paving-Driveway-Turf-Gravel-Protector-Drainage-Mat-/231231255236?hash=item35d674f2c4

 

I thought the bugs would be able to come up through quite easily but it would stop the ground srom turning into a quagmire!?!?

 

This is exactly what I plan to use, and cover with a deep layer of wood chip. I hope it will stop the wood chip from being mixed into the ground and turning into a slurry which what happened to mine previously. I do have concerns how the chickens will find it on their feet. Also, I'm not sure whether to put a membrane underneath? My drainage is already awful (clay) and I think the membrane would further resist drainage - which I don't want. Any advice will be appreciated!