Poorly chicken

[NicolaW77]

Evening

 

Sorry to ask the age old question, but I am trying to decide on what to put down on the floor in my new wir. I've just upgraded to a cube from the go and I am putting it inside the wir. My DH, has just finished building me a concrete base and am contemplating what to put on it.

 

I thought I had decided yesterday on rubber chips as the write ups were really great, until I read that unless you have good drainage (which I won't on concrete) they can become quite dirty. Does anyone have rubber chips on concrete?? I liked this idea from a longevity perspective.

 

I currently have hardwood chips, and they have been really good, but didn't know if something else might work well / better. Does anyone have easibed/easichick in the run?? Mine will be covered, but only with the Omlet covers and so wet will still come in from the sides.

 

Thanks in advance

Nx

[Luvachicken]

A vote for hardwood woodchips from me

My run is covered on top but as you say, the rain blows in from the sides which would make the aubiose wet.

I've never tried the rubber chips and my girls only had patio slabs before the woodchip went on top.

The woodchips work well and provide plenty of digging opportunities.

[NicolaW77]

Thanks Luvachicken

[The Dogmother]

Just use Aubiose in the run as well as the housing; it dries out the droppings and composts beautifully, which is more than can be said for woodchip.

[Cat tails]

Just use Aubiose in the run as well as the housing; it dries out the droppings and composts beautifully, which is more than can be said for woodchip.

 

But only works if the run stays completely dry.

[The Dogmother]

True, but then the run really should be covered anyway - chickens on damp litter will end up with fungal or bacterial foot problems.

[Luvachicken]

How covered does a run have to be ?

For no rain to get in at all surely the whole thing must be covered, not just the roof ?

[The Dogmother]

Depends on your location really - mine have clear tarps over the top and down each side as I get horizontal rain here.

[Luvachicken]

Thanks

Mine is covered on the roof and at one end where the rain can drive in.

It's mainly the 2 front facing sides that have nothing.

It has been pouring today, all day , and it is only the first foot of the inside of the run that is wet - the rest is bone dry.

 

Oh for the return of Summer !!

[The Dogmother]

I have that problem on the fornt (door) ends, so I have a 'porch' of corrugated clear plastic wedged under the tarp and sticking out to provide protection. In the winter of course, they have to be pretty comprehensively covered to prevent bird droppings from getting in.

[NicolaW77]

Thanks so much for your replies.

 

Tbh, I don't know how dry the run will be! I have purchased the 10ft x 10ft WIR by Omlet and 3 of the 3m roof covers. I will have to cover the side with something as well, but the rain will still be able to come in the front. If todays weather is anything to go by, I had better get it weatherproofed as soon as it's errected! Will probably be trial and error.

 

My current go and 3m run is pretty much completely covered except for about 10cm at the bottom of each side and after todays rain the whole run is soaking.

[The Dogmother]

Look on ebay for 'glass clear market stall tarpaulins ', i get the ones with the webbing through them as they tend to last longer

[NicolaW77]

Dogmother - that's a really clever idea with the porch, will try that

 

Re: Tarpaulin, will check that out, thanks for the tips

[BridieLou]

Second vote for Godmother suggestion. We've got a 3m run and bought a clear glass tarp online. Only about £20, great quality, and covers the whole thing (top and sides). Lovely dry chickens!