digging!

[Jax]

So my little lovelies have managed to fig a hole under the run in one point! I have filled it up with compost but they dug it straight out. How do I stop them digging? It only seems to be in that one spot and they are using it to dust bathe in mainly!

[chris]

concrete?

Mine are the same. I have *craters* in my garden - one near the fence... I suspect that they'll be making a bid for freedom soon.

[RichmondHens]

You can't stop them digging, that's what hens do! They need to create a dustbath, which is not only healthy behaviour but very necessary to help them deter parasites. If your hens are repeatedly dustbathing day after day then you might need to check them over for lice, but in this warm flash we are having then almost every bird will be taking the opportunity to have a good clean up.

Other than that, it's a downside to having chickens that they dig enormous holes - craters, as Chris says - I think I could fit a horse in the size of some of mine!! The only solution is to provide an alternative site for them, but it rather sounds like they have chosen their spot so it may be hard to stop them.

[Jax]

They havent been able to dustbath it got so wet but its been lovely and warm today so they have made the most of it. There was all four of them shuffling around in their hole today. Quite funny to watch but their hole is starting to come through the other side which is why I was concerned.

[Aberdeenplotter]

So my little lovelies have managed to fig a hole under the run in one point! I have filled it up with compost but they dug it straight out. How do I stop them digging? It only seems to be in that one spot and they are using it to dust bathe in mainly!

Leave a roasting dish outside the run

[jps]

mine dig too. one shed is raised up about 18 inches or so and they dig under there, doesnt seem to be a big problem atm but its something i am monitoring.

mind you later today i plan to shovel a couple of bags of sand and maybe some compost under there so they can bathe in it still.

[kathyd]

Hi Jax - would it be possible to cover the hole on the outside of the fence in some way? A piece of wood or something maybe, to stop them getting right out? Or to block it with rocks or bricks or wood or something? Mine seem to like to build their dustbaths amongst the roots of trees or bushes, or in spaces between rocks, so they might actually quite like having something stuffed in the hole with them? They'll probably lose interest in that particular bath eventually anyway - and dig a new one! But to be honest, I'd be worried about something IN as much as getting out....

[super trowel]

I would just fill the hole with compost and then
Cover that with a slab
And if that doesn't work I would go with aberdeen plotter's idea

[Jax]

aberdeen plotter that is naughty!!! I have a tree in a large pot that I have put over the hole for now. I keep filling it back it up but they spread it across the coop. At least the whole coop is covered in lovely fine compost now.

[Aberdeenplotter]

aberdeen plotter that is naughty!!!

I'm awful amn't I.

right serious time now. Lay some netting wire on the ground to cover the area and peg it down. They'll soon get tired of scraping the wire

[Hilary B]

It's all been said, but consider sinking the fence down to a foot deep, or laying paving slabs outside the run where the hole is.