Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[GQsm]

Hi,

I am looking to buy some mesh to go under the wood chips in our run.

 

My locally poultry shop doesn't sell it.

I have found some online http://www.newlandpoultry.com/index.php/online-shop-t/2014-03-05-06-55-14/product/153-turf-protector-1-metre-width

but am struggling generally to find many suppliers and want to buy locally where I can pick it up.

 

The pictures I have seen of this mesh make it look like some kind of generic coated mesh rather than a product especially produced for this task. If it is a generic coated mesh then I should hopefully have more luck sourcing locally.

 

Can anyone offer any insight? I would especially like to know the size of the holes from someone who has purchased it from a specialist poultry provider.

 

Thanks.

[Cat tails]

Just curious, but why do you want mesh under the run? I think it wouldn't be very easy to remove the woodchip from this. A number people here have paving slabs under their run, topped up with woodchips.

[GQsm]

Just curious, but why do you want mesh under the run? I think it wouldn't be very easy to remove the woodchip from this. A number people here have paving slabs under their run, topped up with woodchips.

 

A few reasons.

 

I think the mesh holes are reasonably small and it is laid flush to the ground so I think 90% of the chips would be easily scoopable.

 

I did a lot of research on run design including long threads on this forum. This article seemed very well thought out

http://www.newlandpoultry.com/index.php/2014-01-31-22-04-44/chicken-run-mud-management and other articles I came across had some forms in common with it.

 

The run is going on an unused play area in our garden, the ground is a strange sand clay ballast mix covered with a weed proof membrane.

I don't want the weed proof membrane or strange ground material scratching up by the chickens especially as we would likely need to return it to a play area if we moved. The mesh is supposed to solve this.

 

The mesh would still allow good drainage. I am not that fond of the idea of the chickens being totally on slabs and don't want to have to lay a slab base as making this area flat would be a nightmare. I may change my mind at a later date but it isn't the current plan.

 

I figure if adaquately pinned down the mesh will also stop Foxes digging up into the run, even though I don't think they could dig up through the strange ground anyway.

[Cat tails]

I've done this underneath my run. You don't actually need to dig them in, but just to show you, they don't need to be flat or alligning. I deliberately didn't make them meet, so their is still enough drainage. I covered it up with earth again, but you could do woodchips too.

 

Just to give you a different (cheaper) option. Don't feel pressured please

[GQsm]

I've done this underneath my run. You don't actually need to dig them in, but just to show you, they don't need to be flat or alligning. I deliberately didn't make them meet, so their is still enough drainage. I covered it up with earth again, but you could do woodchips too.

 

Just to give you a different (cheaper) option. Don't feel pressured please

 

Maybe I will think about slabs some more then, especially if I cannot get hold of any mesh.

[Cat tails]

Sorry forgot to put in picture...

[amyc]

I bought a sheet of covered mesh in green much like the omlet run mesh. I bought it in a shop called The Range (it's a chain). This was only yesterday.

[sjp]

it looks like plastic fence mesh to me is so it's a pig to get the wood chips up properly, I used some left over mesh from the run in part of my run it lasted about 6 months before I ripped it out and put the 'hard standing' grid tile down

I've also got slabs down of 3 of my runs 1 I had to put an extra layer on top as the slabs that were all ready down from an old shed base held water. If you don't won't to lay heavy slabs use old or cheap bricks or block pavers the more joints the better really for drainage cray paving will work as well especially if there and footpath or building repairs going on locally were you could salvage any broken slabs or old bricks

[Grandmashazzie]

Another fan of paving slabs here. You can sometimes pick them up on gumtree freebies as people change their gardens.

[jasperaliceuk]

I have done the mud management option and had it down for a over a year. This is the plastic mesh you need, pegged down securely over the landscape fabric. :http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/garden-mesh-green-support---6-x-1m-111318

 

It works very well - the chip has lasted a year and in April I took the whole lot up, including the mesh and fabric and redid it with fresh chip. This is because the woodchip which deteriorates gets between the mesh and fabric and needs to be got out - on the plus side it makes fantastic compost. A broom works well once you have got the worst of the woodchip off. The chickens don't mind it at all - but they usually get a few chances in the week to get out and freerange in the garden.

 

This time round I put a very low border of wood around the inside of the run to try and stop them kicking it all out and have tied a 10" high very fine mesh around the outside. I had piles of woodchip all round the outside!

[The Dogmother]

I have slabs under my run, but did get some mesh from a company in Coventry (I think) some years ago, and meshed the whole of my lawn to stop the chooks and the dogs digging it up. It works very well.

 

There was a thread on here about it... will see if I can find it.

 

Hereyou go.....

[GQsm]

Thanks for the replies, it's been a hectic few weeks.

Priced up all slabs and it was dearer than the mesh so stuck with my original plan and sourced some mesh online (It's amazing how much money seems to vanish doing things like this).

 

Can infill at a later date with more slabs if I don't think the mesh wood chip combo is working that well further down the line.

So far though have been very happy with it. Chooks seem to be much more at home on the wood chips than they were on the lawn which has surprised me.