Run Floor bedding

[timmyalex]

Hi, advice please.

The girls are kept in a net polytunnel so obviously open to the elements and they have a rubber floor. The poly tunnel was previously used as part of a mini garden center operation. We have covered the rubber floor with wood chippings obtained from a friendly tree surgeon but have found that after a year the chippings are mush and smelly and have to be replaced. I have spent the weekend shovelling up the muck and placing onto my vegetable beds as a mixture of fertiliser and mulch ready to be dug into the beds in a few weeks time ready for planting etc. Anyway, i diverge, What other alternatives are open to me for covering their floor as i think just leaving the rubber matting will not enable them to scratch about etc. and might even be unhealthy for them. Answers on a postcard..........

[motherhen]

Hemcore is fantastic, as it rots well, much quicker than woodchips, also woodchips tend to hold moisture that is why they are used for mulching.
We use it here in most of our runs, aviaries and stables. It seems to stay cleaner for longer, and the birds love to scratch around in it. Its available at most agricultural merchants, it will cost more than your woodchips but I think you'll find its worth it.

[vegaholic]

Hemcore is fantastic, as it rots well, much quicker than woodchips, also woodchips tend to hold moisture that is why they are used for mulching.

I second that, we use it on the floor of our coops and bung it straight it in the compost bin whenever we clean out. There's also some similar stuff, a bit more readily available, called Aubiose.

[di]

We use straw...get it for anywhere between £1 to £2.50 a bale.
The problem we have is that it gets trodden into the mud but as you have rubber flooring it should be pretty easy to clean up.

[tlck9]

I have used some Miscanthus, or elephant grass in the run, which is open to the elements, but put it on only recently

Is this similar to Hemcore? or is hempcore like cosycoop?

Sorry for being a bit dense.

I'd be keen to get some advice on that also, I'm assuming if injected Miscanthus is still okay for chickens if they peck at it?

[veggielover]

I got a similar problem with flooring for chook run...... i need to put it on concrete for 6 weeks once my new turfs are laid, i'm thinking i'll probably use straw/hay so they still have a bit of rough to scratch at. They have made so many holes in my lawn that it has to be replaced, if they do well on the concrete then i may keep the run there permanatly as don't fancy re turfing again!! In private rented accomodation and although landlord happy with me keeping chooks he doesn't really like the destruction they have caused to the lawn!

[Thekayakcoach]

I'm in no way an expert but I thought I'd try beach pebbles, small enough so they can be scratched around but most importantly they won't take in water or break down. At the mo my girls run is on concrete with wood chippings. I'm thinking that with pebbles I'd be able to hose down poop!

Just an idea.

[snakeshack]

I use hemcore too,I find it rots/composts excptionally quickly when dug out and placed in a compost heap,woodchip takes over a year hemcore is usable in 3 months.

[Glutton4...]

Veggielover, tell your landlord not to worry; if/when you move out the grass will recover, and be greener than ever. The patch my lot were on up to Christmas, is already coming back and looking better than the area surrounding it!

As for bedding/floor covering; I use a Horse bedding called 'Bed Down' it's made in Harleston, Norfolk, and is basically a mix of chopped wheat straw and shavings. It has a mild disinfectant added, which smells of citrus, and helps keep the run and coop fresh smelling. They love scratching around in it!

[RichmondHens]

I'm in no way an expert but I thought I'd try beach pebbles, small enough so they can be scratched around but most importantly they won't take in water or break down. At the mo my girls run is on concrete with wood chippings. I'm thinking that with pebbles I'd be able to hose down poop!

Just an idea.

Pebbles would certainly wash down ok, but you would need to provide something the chooks could dustbathe in too. They couldn't do that in pebbles!