[izzy]

Just taken delivery of my girls  ITZZY,BITZZY and WITZZY.
Seem to have settled in fine had my first egg this afternoon.
My  cry for help is with regards to their run we have put down wood chippings over soil and my question is how and with what do we keep this clean and fresh.

[ehs284]

Don't panic, it's amazing how good chippings are at dealing with the mess (though you do need a lot). No flies either. You'll need to rake them because the chooks will make ankle breaking holes.

[Jeanette]

You can also sprinkle some Stanolan F down and it will sweeten up the run.

[izzy]

where do I get hold of this stanolan F.

I,ve noticed they can dig for England Supplied a dust box but they,ve decided it's better under the hen house so obliged. They seem to be settling in only a week so we are still on the might I may I take corn from my hand

[Flowerpower136]

These days I only put wood chip down in winter if it wet and muddy. Then only for my benefit really, so that I don't slip.  Apart from that I just leave them with bare earth.  As you say, they love to dig and the landscape changes daily!  If we get any reallyh deep craters or high hills, I give it a rake over.

When I poo pick the coop every day, I also do a pick up of any poos I can see in the run, though I think most will just get trodden in by the girls. 

Now and then, just to freshen it all up, I turn it all over with a garden fork.  The girls go berserk!  They know what the fork means . . . . worm fest!!   It takes me ages cos all of them gather round and help out. Have to be careful that heads and toes don't get under the fork as it's pushed in.

No need to break up the sods and clods, just leave it all in lumps like a ploughed field, and they'll spend the whole day sorting it out.  Busy girls.