Run floor

[Snadger]

You could consider one house with two doors then Bilbo. I've seen photos of this sort of set-up - but unless I lose ALL my veg plot I haven't room to do it here. You just use one pop-hole for a couple of months then shut that and use the other. The one I saw had the runs at right angles and pop-holes in two adjacent sides.

Thanks for the Easibed email btw - I have stockists as close as 2 miles away!

And if you have an octagonal chook house with eight pop holes.................

[Flummery]

... you need a field, not an allotment! (Oh, I forgot, you're a serial plot-holder aren't you? )

[RedThorn]

Hi ma Flum, I'm bumping this thread How's it all going....and basically just to be nosey and ask for an update

[Flummery]

Well - takes deep breath and counts to SEVERAL (where several is a large, positive integer as they used to say in the maths tests!)

The thing has gone through many incarnations to date - lots of different designs, tweakings of designs, total re-designs! But the upshot is, I've decided to put in a floor I can hose down - weed membrane covered with flagstones and some gravel - the gravel areas are so I can sink stuff down into the soil below - supports for perches etc. This will have a covering of whatever I decide on - still depends on what I can get locally - maybe hemcore, maybe wood chipings. Then, in the big rake and scrape, I can hose the hard-standing and do a bit of *****-fluiding.

The run is in its final (heaven hopes!) design stage and will be walk-in and big enough for a garden chair for comfortable chook-watching and taming purposes - and we've ordered the materials. I hope they come this week because I'm on a promise to have it started at the weekend. I have made the "declaration that shall not be gain-said" that I intend to collect the chooks on the first weekend in April. I've checked with the supplier who said just to ring a few days before.

So - keep your fingers crossed.

The next countdown will be for them to start laying of course!

[Bephlam]

My run is a static one, and I have a weldmesh skirt plus a concrete wall around the edge....and on the floor I use bark (yeah, I know it's naughty...but the breeder told me he's used it with his favs for years and it's caused no ill effect)...I did have wood chip down, but they ruined it too quickly.

I scrape the run out every three months and start again - It works a treat...apart from when they kick it all out on to the patio - little *hits!

[Snadger]

I've been hatching (Sic) a cunning plan for if and when my faverolles hatch. I would like to pave the run area (with a suitable fall for water displacement) then cover it with either chippings or sand. Faverolles have feathery legs so I can't afford to let them get there feet muddy!

[RedThorn]

Thanks For the update.... had a response all typed up and then my connection died... will try again.

It's frustrating when the head and the heart don't agree.Head says get this sorted first and the heart says I do't want to wait anymore! In the long run(pun not actually intended) it'll be great to get everything in place and as it should be and just the way you want it Looking forward to the pics in April. Rather take the time now than wish you had done something else laters (unlike me...bull in a china shop syndrome me )

[Bephlam]

Yeah, and that's a bit of a problem Snadger - I wash my girls feet weekly in some warm water and then apply some Vaseline. It works a treat...and they're always very clean and fluffy!!

[lynda66]

i have one with feathery legs and pingu has a feather on her little toe, thankfully they aren't over hairy lol ....... currently digging down to the gravel layer, may as well use the good soil elsewhere in the garden as it's the best soil i have lol ..... gonna put down a weldmesh base, then pave part of it nearest the house (till the broken paving slabs run out), and just leave soil on the rest for now, that can be removed and replaced elsewhere in the garden periodically...... they can also play in the garden when i'm out there

[Flummery]

Thanks For the update.... had a response all typed up and then my connection died... will try again.

It's frustrating when the head and the heart don't agree.Head says get this sorted first and the heart says I do't want to wait anymore! In the long run(pun not actually intended) it'll be great to get everything in place and as it should be and just the way you want it Looking forward to the pics in April. Rather take the time now than wish you had done something else laters (unlike me...bull in a china shop syndrome me )

It IS a bit (well, more than a bit!) frustrating - but I have to say, I like the new design and it should be VERY predator-proof! As you say, you only have to get it right once!

[Flummery]

I've been hatching (Sic) a cunning plan for if and when my faverolles hatch. I would like to pave the run area (with a suitable fall for water displacement) then cover it with either chippings or sand. Faverolles have feathery legs so I can't afford to let them get there feet muddy!

Glad an old hand like you is paving too Snadger. The run isn't going on a grassed area - it's veg plot, so anything I put on it would sink like a stone - including chickens probably! I've asked on a few poultry forums and some swear by paving or concrete - some wouldn't touch it with a barge-pole. I think you just have to go with what you can cope with - and I'm sure the chickens won't argue!

[lynda66]

i just reckon paving of some sort will cut down on the amount of work, so it's for the same reason the shed is lined with lino, so i can basically just sweep it then get the hose out

[Glutton4...]

When I (eventually ) move mine to permanent quarters I shall put paving down from the gate to the coop, and a small area outside the door, for ease of carting stuff in and out. The remainder will be whatever the 'Laydees' make it, but I expect I'll use some form of horse bedding to sort out the worst areas, as I can always compost it afterwards.

Hope it all goes well Auntie Flum, I bet you can't wait, April is such a long way off lol!

[Flummery]

Hope it all goes well Auntie Flum, I bet you can't wait, April is such a long way off lol!

Sure is! But we first decided in about September - so it's getting closer!

[matthew2riches]

If can set aside 1/2 of your run as sow some green manure there and leave it for a few weeks, that works a treat!

While they're on that... sow the other side. This gives the eggs wonderful yellow yolks.