Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: mickwood on August 10, 2008, 18:33

Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: mickwood on August 10, 2008, 18:33: I've had my son staying with me for the past couple of weeks and I have a feeling he may well have caught the ol' chook bug! :wink:

BUT....

his 'garden' with his mum is all concrete. Can he keep chooks on concrete? I was thinking of him creating a large 'tray' which could be a couple of inches deep, soil in the bottom and then covered in bark chippings. This could basically cover the bottom of any run he may build. Would that suffice or is it unfair on the chooks he gets?

THANKS! :D
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: Kate and her Ducks on August 10, 2008, 18:40: How old is he and what does his mum think before worrying about bark chips :?
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: mickwood on August 10, 2008, 19:04: He's 13, and it's best to get all ideas sorted before raising the notion with his Mum! :?
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: poultrygeist on August 10, 2008, 19:17: I think it's possible provinding you have a deep enough litter (bark,etc) and have some drainage. Our small area of concrete where the house stands gets very wet and doesn't dry our for ages. The bark becomes a soggy mess very quickly and stays that way. :?

But it's easier to keep out burrowing predators and vermin.

Don't really know how practical it is over a large area. Be interested to read comments.

rob 8)
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: FCG on August 10, 2008, 20:07: Is there a possibility of creating a slight artificial slope with building sand on the concrete then covering it with black plastic? (a-la-pond liner) which then can be covered with bark chippings. That way excess water would slide to one side. Easily led away to a drain if possible to be positioned or to a grass border?

This is just off the top of my head, i'll have to think more on this.
Possible sketched diagram of the whole garden please?
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: poultrygeist on August 10, 2008, 21:45: Trouble is, the chippings would slide off the liner. And the sand may wash away.

I was wondering about more of a gully down the middle or one side to take away excess.

Or drainage holes to the sub base but that might allow vermin through.

Rob
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: FCG on August 10, 2008, 21:59: I'll counter with buying a lot of 2x4 and laying it with an inch gap between them then putting the lino over it and stapling it so you get little gulleys for water to drain off the bark onto. Then this water would drain off onto a plastic gully (bit of spare guttering?) Seal off the 2x4 + plastic except on the side where the gulley is. So it looks like it's on a solid wooden base from 3 sides. Keep the vermin out and drains.

Howzat?
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: poultrygeist on August 10, 2008, 22:26: Now you're talking !!

I like that idea. :D

Have a gold star (http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc208/maksmum/star2.gif)

Rob 8)
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: Vember on August 10, 2008, 22:29: would they be in the run all the time?

smell is a problem that springs to my mind, wet poo on concrete goes like slurry

Oh sorry prob being too negative, ignore me :)
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: poultrygeist on August 10, 2008, 22:32: Can't ignore the negatives...especially the smell :?

With enough chippings and a roof over the whole it should be ok.

Rob
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: Jellyhead on August 11, 2008, 10:44: What about an Eglu with bark chippings in the run, isnt that what Aunty does :?: :D
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: Vember on August 11, 2008, 10:51: Good thinking Jelly :)
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: MikeyWood on August 11, 2008, 11:52: Hi yeah thanks everyone
i'll keep these all in mind and maybe pull up a bit of concrete for mud and grass an stuff also fence a bit of garden off so they can be let out for a bit! Can't wait to get some chickens now! :lol: thanks all hope to as about more chicken stuff soon bye!!!! :D
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: Roughlee Handled on August 11, 2008, 11:54: Quote from: "FCG"
I'll counter with buying a lot of 2x4 and laying it with an inch gap between them then putting the lino over it and stapling it so you get little gulleys for water to drain off the bark onto. Then this water would drain off onto a plastic gully (bit of spare guttering?) Seal off the 2x4 + plastic except on the side where the gulley is. So it looks like it's on a solid wooden base from 3 sides. Keep the vermin out and drains.

Howzat?

OK WHERE ARE THE PHOTOS OF THIS AMAZING COOP?

PHOTOS NOW FCG
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: poultrygeist on August 11, 2008, 11:59: Hi MikeyWood. Gonna get you and your dad mixed up, I can tell. :)

Liking the tagline. :D :spiderman: :pig:

Rob 8)
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: Vember on August 11, 2008, 12:21: That got me really puzzled tooo :lol:

I was like hey whats going on???? You've already got chickens so why u excited :? :?

Welcome to the hen house Mikeywood :D
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: mickwood on August 11, 2008, 13:15: LMAO!! The little fella got so excited he's joined the forum!!

Fingers crossed he gets his chooks...if not, he can share mine :D
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: FCG on August 11, 2008, 15:03: I'll sketch up a little drawing later and scan it up.
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: poultrygeist on August 11, 2008, 16:13: We were just up the road from you yesterday Mick. Chezzer station.

Could have dropped in for a cuppa :roll:

Rob (inviting himself) 8)
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: mickwood on August 11, 2008, 16:15: Welcome anytime rob! Why the hell were you in Chezzy?? Did ya get lost...only reason anyone would end up here? :lol:
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: GrannieAnnie on August 11, 2008, 16:23: Have you mentioned chickens to your Mum yet mikey????? :D
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: poultrygeist on August 11, 2008, 17:11: Quote from: "mickwood"
Welcome anytime rob! Why the hell were you in Chezzy?? Did ya get lost...only reason anyone would end up here? :lol:

Met Kate at the station to handover the ducks. It was about halfway ish and we both knew it reasonably well.

My parents lived at New Tupton for a new years too. Used to go through Clay Cross regularly.

rob
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: mickwood on August 11, 2008, 17:28: You should have let me know, you could have met here - at least that way you get a brew :wink:

Enjoy ya ducks!...bit too big for me to have in the garden of a terraced house! :(
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: Kate and her Ducks on August 11, 2008, 17:45: I've got mine in the garden of a semi-detached!
Title: Concrete chooks?
Post by: poultrygeist on August 11, 2008, 18:34: Quote from: "mickwood"
You should have let me know, you could have met here - at least that way you get a brew :wink:

Enjoy ya ducks!...bit too big for me to have in the garden of a terraced house! :(

Never occurred to me in all the excitement. And I Kate's friend may have thought we'd gone completely mad if we'd turned up at yours for a cuppa with the 3 ducks and the turkey (rip)! :shock:

Rob