[GrumpyGrandad]

I am new to keeping hens, read alot on the internet, attended a course converted my aviary for hen use, I know ideally being on concrete is not best but I have put down wood chip for them to run around on, how often should I remove the chips and wash them through and what is the best way of achieving that. (or is there a better alternative)

Second question I now know felt roofs are not a good idea, I intend to remove mine and replace it with corrugated plastic in the next couple of days, have I created a big problem for myself already with red mite (however I see no trace of it at present)

Thank you all

[joyfull]

Is your coop new? If so and the timber it is made from has been treated then I doubt that you will have redmite already. However well done for taking the bull by the horns and deciding to get Onduline or Caroline to replace the roof. This allows good ventilation and also no place for the dreaded red mites to hide during the day. One thing you may want to do is either cut or scrunch up some wire mesh to fit in the ends of the onduline so prevent rats, weasels or stoats getting into the coop.
Welcome to the forum by the way  .
I have deliberately not answered the flooring question as I don't have runs for my birds so will leave that to others who do to let you know how they deal with them 

[bantam novice]

Hello Grumpy Grandad, and welcome to the forum 
I am not an expert, however I understand from what I have read that chickens need somwhere to have a dustbath and I have read suggestions of using a large tyre filled with a mixture of sand and earth.  Good Luck and keep us posted 

[GrumpyGrandad]

The aviary is not new 5 years old had 6 budgies and a qual in it, these have since moved on, were not signs of the red mite on them.

[JaK]

Our run is has a large section of slabs and I cover these with a layer of wood shavings or miscanthus. When this gets dirty I sweep it up (compost it) and replace with new. I also scatter grit through it so they have somthing to scratch for.

[salt and pepper]

Jak, what sort of grit do you use, & where do you get it from ?

Thanks 

[JaK]

My lot are only 6 weeks old so I use chick grit which I got from a farm supply store. When they are older I will use flint grit instead.
I'm sure it can also be bought online.

[Lindeggs]

Hello GrumpyGrandad and welcome.

I'm not clear if your aviary is going to be the coop for your chickens (just where they sleep at night and lay their eggs) or if it is going to be their run (the open area where they run around and get fresh air and exercise).

If it's their coop, then I assume it is fully enclosed from the weather?  In that case the concrete base with a layer of wood chips will be ok, but a softer, more absorbant bedding like wood shavings would be even better.

If the area is their outdoor run, then a concrete base with wood chips on top sounds fine.  I don't use this system myself as, like joyfull, my chickens have the run of the garden and are not enclosed.

It sounds like you are aware of the red mite problem and are taking the right actions, so you don't need more information about that. 

My only remaining question would be what floor area you have for your hens?  Obviously budgies and quails are much smaller, and the budgies can use the vertical space in the aviary, so aviaries are often tall and narrow.  But hens, as ground-dwelling birds that love to dig and forage, need quite a lot of floor space.

Good luck with your hens and do let us know when you get them.  We all get very excited when we meet new chicken-keepers! 

[GrumpyGrandad]

The aviary is about 6ft by 4ft by 6 ft high and the coop area which was the previous  birds sleeping area about 2ft sq and 6 ft high. The aviary was previously placed on concrete slabs which I retained and have about 2" of chippings on that. Their sleeing area has a raised platform with perches and a nest box

My concern is the best way to wash through the chippings and the felt roof which I intend to remove in the next couple of days. Under the felt is a wooden roof which I was going to retain and cover with corrugated pastic hopefully to deal with the possible red mite problem.

All comments and advice appreciated

[GrumpyGrandad]

Now got the roof off amd removed the asphelt painted inside and outside with a bitumen paint treated for redmite and covered now with corrugated plastic, must confess when the felt was taken off the wood looked very clean even though it is 6 years old.

Is there somewhere that you can view the mite in order to know what to look for