Storms and chickens

[S17HGG]

Hi and thanks for accepting me as a member.

 

I’m a beginner who is doing some research on keeping chickens at the moment. 

I have space of about 10.5sq/m which is slabbed. 

I plan on building around this area to make it my run and also buy a professionally built coop which I still have to source. I’m looking keeping 2/3 chickens in this area.

One of the main things I don’t want to mess up is protecting the chickens. I want to get this bit correct.

 

I’m looking for some advice on what to do about the run floor.

I can keep all the slabs as they are and buy Aubiose hemp material to fill the floor. 

From what I understand they will need a separate dust bath area and this Aubiose would require completely cleaned out every 4-6weeks? Unless there are any other products that are recommended to go on top of slabs

 

Another possibility I was also looking at is to remove these slabs, laying a mesh floor, covering this mesh floor with membrane and then topping this with Aubiose bedding. I’m not sure if they will dig or peck into the membrane and I don’t know if I’m creating more work for myself by removing a perfectly good floor already.

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[soapdragon]

I'd certainly keep the slabs - far less work.....you'll just need to make sure that the edges of whatever run you choose are secure against it so that nothing can get in or overturn it. An Eglu classic would be the right size for 2/3 or bantams but, if you think you may want to increase your flock at a later date, best go bigger from the start. Presume that your girls will free range for part of the day? We set up a lovely dust bath for ours but they turned up their beaks at it and chose their own shaded patch of garden to bathe in for most of the time!

We only every had a Classic and used to move it around the lawn every couple of weeks as we didn't have an obvious place for a paved run. However, there are others on The Forum with much more experience than me and I'm sure they will give you some more pointers and advice!

[mullethunter]

DEFINITELY keep the slabs!!! Nearly everyone (or at least a lot of people) who starts with anything else switches to slabs as they’re so much easier to keep not muddy (very bad grammar - sorry).

The alternative to aubiose is hardwood chips.

[The Dogmother]

Don't forget that you will need a clear, waterproof cover (I use tarpaulins) over the run.

[Patricia W]

Welcome!  I only change the  aubiouse in the run about 3 times a year.  Every couple of weeks or so, I rake In Stalosan F a soil sanitiser to keep the area sweet.  But you MUST cover the run.  You can get clear tarps from Tarpaflex or Toolstation.  Or use the wavy plastic sheet from Wickes or similar 

[The Dogmother]

10 hours ago, Patricia W said:

Welcome!  I only change the  aubiouse in the run about 3 times a year.  Every couple of weeks or so, I rake In Stalosan F a soil sanitiser to keep the area sweet.  But you MUST cover the run.  You can get clear tarps from Tarpaflex or Toolstation.  Or use the wavy plastic sheet from Wickes or similar 

Me 3....

I rake Ground Sanitising Powder through weekly and the mucking out regularity depends on how manky it looks. Obviously, they are in the run much more over the winter, so it gets mucked out - or a spot clean on dodgy bits - more regularly.

[S17HGG]

Greats thanks for all of the advice. I’ll be keeping the slabs. Saves me a lot of time! 

I’m looking at fitting a sloped corrugated roof. Is it best to be clear so they can have sun or is it best for a metal aluminium one to reflect the sun and keep them cooler?

[The Dogmother]

Yep, make it clear - you can always sling an opaque tarp over if it gets full sun.  Remember to put weldmesh under the clear roofing too as a fox will easily fall through if it jumps on the plastic.

[Cat tails]

You don’t want it too dark in winter. So maybe clear plastic and add some shades over it in summer?

[S17HGG]

I’ll add all these notes to my list! Thanks again!🙂