[mikebucks]

Dear All, I have been keeping three (2 buff sussex and one light sussex)chickens in an eglu with extended run and allowing them out to free range when either I or the kids or wife are around, the problem is that now summer is coming we dont really want to relocate the run all over  the lawn as it has a noticeable effect on the grass!

If I keep the run in the same position through the summer does this present any health issues for the hens? Also , and this probably goes out to all eglu hen keepers, do you need to put chippings down and if so how do you clean them as you can't exactly climb in the run.  :?

I appreciate any views/comments

MIke

[jammy]

As you are letting them out often its no problem to keep their eglu in a fixed position.  The grass in that place will last a matter of weeks at most so most people tend to put chippings down.   I dont have an eglu but a similar set up and I use chippings, topping them up as needed and then about twice a year I completely pull out all the old stuff and replace.  They also soak up all the rain and stop the run turning into a big mud pie  

[mikebucks]

Thanks, I initially thought moving it about as in their advert was feasable but not if we want to sit on the laws aswell! Dont the chippings get rather covered up with poo as mine seem to produce quite an amount.

Mike

[Aunt Sally]

My eglu is sited in the same place all the time with bark chips in the run.  When I want to clean the it out I (with the help of Worzel) just lift the eglu and run off and onto the lawn (posh word for grass) take out the pooiest bark and top up with fresh.  Easy peasy, very quick to do  

[mikebucks]

Thanks Aunt Sally, I think I saw a picture of your run on one thread.

[Aunt Sally]

:oops: I'm suire you did.

Here's another of the girls helping us to relay a bit of grass.

[peggyprice]

Nice to see your girls at last, Aunty - you're usually so busy helping us newbies we don't hear anything about yours!

They're beautifully glossy - must be all that cod liver oil  

[Aunt Sally]

And here they are testing the new grass

[smiler43]

Lovely chooks Aunt Sally awwwww

Mikebucks - I've got a permanent run and have wood chippings down, I keep raking it and you find that the poo is in clumps, I pick it out with salad tongs and compost it.  I have put a cover over the run at the mo with all the rain just to keep it a bit drier as it's easier to poo pick.  Will replace it when it's needed.