mullethunter Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Here's a photo of my girls having their bedtime corn in their bird flu proofed run with extra perches and veggies. Margot seems to have fallen ft to the right but I think you can see her if you click on the photo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 That looks fab in there It looks huge I love how they are all lined up nicely. What bark stuff did you go for ? How long have they had the bark and are they OK on it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Ditto everything luvvachicken said. Have you noticed the price of tarps has really gone up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 I've just noticed some kind of ball thing hanging, just above/in line with your lavender pekin. What is it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 Lovely photo They all look very happy in their run! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted January 31, 2017 Author Share Posted January 31, 2017 It's a 3 X 2 metre run attached to the Cube run - it's a fair size but I think it only looks massive because of the perspective and because the girls are all small. They're lined up because I spread their corn in a line! Their floor is hard wood chip from FlyteSoFancy. It's expensive but I'm really pleased with it. About half the run gets wet from the sides when it rains, but it's never muddy and there are always dry bits. They've been on it about 15 months now and in that time I've only done one complete change. I'll do another when the lock down is over because having been down since August and with them in all the time this lot is starting to break down quite badly now. They seem to like it - they can dig about in it and generally move it from wherever I put it looking nice and neat Chickabee I bought my tarp over a year ago and haven't looked at prices since. I'm guessing it's supply and demand. I have to say I'm a little disappointed that mine has a couple of tears in now, but I suppose I've pulled it too tight over the corners of the run. It gets really bad condensation on the inside - when the weathers good I fold it back to try to dry it out but it's never that successful. The girls seem to like having a solid cover though - if they're free ranging and it rains they always run back in (except Margot). Luvachicken the ball thing is the height in technology and fashion for hentertainment - I'm surprised you don't recognise it - half a white cabbage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 It's a 3 X 2 metre run attached to the Cube run - it's a fair size but I think it only looks massive because of the perspective and because the girls are all small. They're lined up because I spread their corn in a line! Their floor is hard wood chip from FlyteSoFancy. It's expensive but I'm really pleased with it. About half the run gets wet from the sides when it rains, but it's never muddy and there are always dry bits. They've been on it about 15 months now and in that time I've only done one complete change. I'll do another when the lock down is over because having been down since August and with them in all the time this lot is starting to break down quite badly now. They seem to like it - they can dig about in it and generally move it from wherever I put it looking nice and neat Luvachicken the ball thing is the height in technology and fashion for hentertainment - I'm surprised you don't recognise it - half a white cabbage Quite a big run then My original Omlet bit is only 3m x 1m that's why yours looks so big. I might think about getting them some of those chips. Hubby said we had chips when I had my original Omlet girls but they were only from B&Q and I think they went mouldy - that's why I got rid of them. Do you think the ones you have go mouldy less ? As for the cabbage - I did think it looked a bit like bread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted January 31, 2017 Author Share Posted January 31, 2017 The hardwood chips don't go mouldy at all - I don't know whether they're treated (they are specifically for chickens) or whether hardwood ones just don't go mouldy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 Ok I'm considering this. It's £89.90 for 10 bags. What sort of maintenance do you do. I've got more hens than you in my big run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted January 31, 2017 Author Share Posted January 31, 2017 I pick out obvious poo most days and chuck it on the compost heap, and I sprinkle ground sanitising powder - usually once a month but once a fortnight at the moment. I've left them in for up to ten days without cleaning them out though and it's never got smelly. It's paving slabs underneath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 I've had a really good look at the Flyte So Fancy site and have asked them to send me a sample of the woodchips Then I might get them some and possibly some Hemp E Bedding - I'm hoping this is like Aubiose but with a nice smell - and not like that awful bedding I got them before that caused all their crop problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted January 31, 2017 Author Share Posted January 31, 2017 Where do you use the bedding luvachicken? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 Where do you use the bedding luvachicken? At the moment I'm using Aubiose in the poop trays and in the nest box but when I saw that the Hemp stuff smells nice and might repel flies I thought it might be nice for the summer. What I saw on their site did look like Aubiose. I did like the smell of that Dengie stuff, it's just a shame that it did what it. Admittedly I did have the Dengie stuff in one of their digging pits so I could put the bedding in there - it never went inside the cube - but they still have lots of leaves in their pits at the moment which they enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 I just use newspaper in their tray. No cleaning required! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 I just use newspaper in their tray. No cleaning required! I did use to use newspaper when I first had chickens but now use the aubiose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 I get my hardwood chips from Bark U.K., it's around £100 for 1000 litres and comes in a large sack on a pallet. My run is covered, it's been 18 months since I last changed it but will do it again once lock down is over. It sounds a lot of money but I find it cost effective over the time it is down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BridieLou Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 Mine have been moved from their run to the summer house. It’s about 2mx2m, plus a mezzanine, and we only have 3 girls, so they’ve got just enough room without free-ranging. The floor is wooden (was beautifully painted - now covered in poop!), and I bought a 20kg bag of Auboise that’s down now for them to scratch around in. I’m not actually that impressed with it, am I the only one? It seems to have got damp quite quickly (though, to be fair, it’s still miles better than the soggy woodchip they were on in their run!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 Aubiose is ok, but will need changing quite often. You definitely have to poo pick very regularly. I use easibed which is the same as easi chick and straw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
