Advice re run flooring please?

[Eco-Chic]

It's quite big Tick. I'm not sure if it would fit lengthwise across the back of my estate car. It wouldn't fit into the integral covered run attached to my coop. It would easily fit into an 8' x 8' run but the chooks wouldn't have much space left.

[Bramble-Poultry]

right - farm speak now! what i refer to (and generally accepted by all as a bale) is actually called a small bale, and usually measures around about 4' x 2' x 2', held together with a couple of bits of orange or blue baler twine. It weighs around 15-20kg and can be lumped around with relative ease by one person.

An actual bale of straw, is usually (around here anyway) one of those 6' diameter round discs, about 3' deep. There is a rectangular equivalent. These have to be moved about by a tractor with a pronged fork attachement as it would take several people to man handle it and there is a serious risk of injury if manouvered manually.

Pets at Home (and other large pet stores) sell "bales" of straw - these are approximately the size of a carrier bag in diameter and about 2' tall. usually they are made up from a normal small bale split into smaller bags, and cost the equivalent of £16 for a bale

Likewise, a bale of shavings is usally the same sort of size as the small bale of straw, and costs around £7 per bale, cheaper from certain stores and if bought in bulk. Different shavings (be they wood or hemp core etc) cost different amounts of money etc. weigh up there benefits with rates of absorbtion etc to price

[beulah59]

I've just had a load of woodchip delivered by the tree surgeon ... I gave him £5 ... it's beech.

Actually, it's still on the drive and DH said he'd move it but isn't home yet!! It'll get in the run sooner or later ... if it doesn't all blow away!

[tlck9]

Living on the coast we have been drowned literally with non stop rain, no where is without puddle and my run is no exception

if I put straw in, (if i doesnt blow away) the chucks kick it and it ends up in their water soaking it up.

I've put some slabs down

What do people think about stones, pea gravel?

[dexterdoglancashire]

I'll have to call at a local farm and ask......

Ive had a look around here but most farmers use the as I call it, swiss roll method these days. Actually, Im happy paying almost £4.00 a bale, at least I know where its come from and it lasts me around a month or so.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Living on the coast we have been drowned literally with non stop rain, no where is without puddle and my run is no exception

if I put straw in, (if i doesnt blow away) the chucks kick it and it ends up in their water soaking it up.

I've put some slabs down

What do people think about stones, pea gravel?

Sorry to hear about all the rain. We had a similar problem so last week I put down a few bags of B&Q rounded pebble type stuff in each of the runs. (what I could get basically) If you have a look at my photos you'll see the size of my runs, but I would say its a good investment - over the last week the straw in the runs has stayed virtually dry - a vast improvement on before where the rain was soaking in the ground and then the straw. Im very impressed. Apart from poo picking may even leave the straw for a couple more days than usual.
Let us know how you get on.
PS Wish Drew would put some slabs down for me so I dont end up ankle deep in mud when seeing to my girls each day!

[Eco-Chic]

My girls do such a marvellously powerful back scratch kick I'd be terrified of wearing a face full of stones if I put pea gravel down.

They look so ladlylike with their frilly knickers and then they go and launch half a ton of mud and gravel into orbit

[tlck9]

If you have a look at my photos you'll see the size of my runs, but I would say its a good investment - over the last week the straw in the runs has stayed virtually dry - a vast improvement on before where the rain was soaking in the ground and then the straw.

Hi there, umm not sure how to view your photo so send you a message