Chicken bald back

[Luvachicken]

My girls have aubiose in their nest box and don't seem to eat it, but having had to have 2 crop operations because my girls ate the special chicken bedding, I'm understandably a bit worried about using aubiose in their run.

 

My girls have a wooden pit that was filled with compost which I have now emptied.

It is split in two and I have filled one half with fresh dry leaves which they love, although I'm not sure how long the leaves will stay "nice" for.

I can't decide whether to fill the other half with more leaves or fill it with aubiose - at the moment it is empty, with just patio stones underneath. I suppose I could fill it with some more compost but just thought they would like a change.

 

I was also wondering whether to cover the rest of their run with the aubiose too which is roofed and keeps dry but not when the wind blows the rain in.

Do you just remove the wet aubiose ?

Does it absorb the damp from the concrete patio itself ?

 

I know all chickens are different and some will eat things that others won't but just wondered if the aubiose, if eaten, would cause a crop problem ?

[The Dogmother]

There's always an exception, but mine have never eaten it

 

Would be a good idea to cover your run completely if possible; they don't fare well in wet conditions and can develop bacterial and fungal foot problems. A clear tarp is fine.

[Luvachicken]

Thanks Dogmother

 

Might have to go and get them some more plastic type stuff then.

 

What I find most difficult is keeping the rain out from where the cube run butts up to the wooden run.

The cube run is covered too but the rain dribbles between the join of the two - often making a small puddle.

 

As long as my silly girls didn't eat it, , the aubiose would be fine in the wooden pit as it is right at the back of the run and that is sheltered by next doors fence and wouldn't get wet.

 

I was looking into the hard wood chips that were mentioned on another post. Might start looking a bit harder now

[PixieDust]

My girls have never eaten the Aubiose.

 

I am still doing ok with a sand floor though if OH had laid the membrane properly in the first place it would be even better. He even admits he was too lazy to lay it properly.

 

Apparently the next run will rectify all the mistakes of the first one!