mrsatroy Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 My 15 girls and Francis my bantam rooster free range in about 1/8 of an acre in my front garden. With all the recent rain it has turned into a complete mud bath with springs bubbling up all over the place. There are some areas where it's not a complete quagmire but I am concerned about my poor little pekin bantams, silkies and my cochins with their feathery feet. Has anyone any solutions to dealing with mud?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I've always put straw down in extremely muddy places. Make sure they have a nice clean bit before they take themselves off to bed. Also check their toes for mud balls. They can be very painful for them, but easy for us to deal with. Straw pellets are also extremely absorbent. I've found using them in the enclosures helps dry things out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsatroy Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 I'll try some straw. Some bits are really bad I sink into it in my wellingtons. I had thought about pea gravel but wasn't sure how that would be when things dry out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Does it matter if the straw gets wet ? The way the wind has blown the rain recently the floor of my run has got quite wet, and where the Omlet run meets my wooden run there is often a big puddle. Would you need to change the straw every day ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 No and no. Once it sticks to the mud it stays there and it kind of weaves together naturally in a layer. You can add to it (deep litter) or remove it and replace it occasionally, but with the mud as it is I'm deep littering at the moment. A bit of bio dry in between helps keep things fresh. I use straw pellets too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Thanks Chickabee Off to google what straw pellets are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Me too, off to google straw pellets. We have a small leak in the roof over out wir but what with the wind and rain, the water has made a it quite sodden. Plan is to re roof some time soon and replenish new wood chip too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Clucker1 I have found straw pellets and miscanthus pellets Thing is to me, they look like the chicken pellets my girls eat, would they know not to eat them ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I get mine from Zooplus (straw pellets). Originally used them for my rabbit, which is what they're advertised for. They're very absorbent. Great to hear if anyone can find them cheaper though . They're bigger than chicken pellets and not at all tasty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 My chickens manage to eat wood shavings and wood chips... You never know with chickens! Aren't those pellets also used as kitty litter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I think your right cats tails, but I think those pellets are a bit smaller and they might be made from saw dust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Porta Pellis is the name of the pellets I use. They are £14.99 for 25kg, don't know what postage is because I always buy dog and cat food from there, so get free p & p. Sadly they don't sell a good range of chicken stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I agree! Would make my life easier! I get everything cat and gerbil related from Zooplus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
