[Flowerpower136]

Not sure what to do, thought I did, but now confused

Hen pen is 20 sq mtr, we've walled and roofed it with 1"x1/2" weldmesh, but intended to otherwide keep it open to the elements, ie it doesn't have a solid waterproof roof.

The hen house within the pen is 1.2 mtr x 1.8 mtr (a bit bigger than we intended!), and raised 60 cms above ground, so girls will have a good area of dry shelter and shade.

The floor of the pen was to be bare earth, though was thinking of maybe stepping stones or possibly stone chip path where I am likely to walk.  The ground is uneven and slopes away, so not the best for paving/concrete.

Originally thinking of using bark chippings on pen floor, but have been told that they will smell awful after use.  Have read here about rubber chippings, but then also read they suffer the same 'smell' problem.   

The pen has trees on two sides, and it's really lovely in there with the trees swaying and swishing above,  which I'm sure the girls will appreciate as much as I do So I don't really want to put on a solid roof.

In which case, what options do I have for flooring?  Is mud such a bad thing?

[Foxy]

mud is awful! and if it starts to smell...yuck! Your run sounds a good size at 20msq, I would pop soft wood chip down and replace every now and then.
How many hens do you intend to keep?

[Flowerpower136]

I'm booked for 6 ex batts to be collected 1 August, and can't wait!

They might be able to have some supervised free ranging in the garden, but not sure because of resident hairy one.  Lovely dog, but with the instincts of a Raptor.  Hence the pen being as big as I can make it, because they might have to be confined for their own safety.

Have just been looking at poultry equipment sites, and wood chippings do seem to be the thing.  How do they get on with chipped stone/gravel?  Still thinking of that as a 'winter' path for me.

Also just ordered one of those automatic pop hole openers and  light steel doors.  Just about to do a search to see if you can buy separately those plastic ladders that fit to the Omlete Cubes.  Don't want the cube, but the ladders are really neat

[Roughlee Handled]

If its bare earth at the moment you have a monthish to get a bit of grass growing.  The reason I say this is because grass is what makes your eggs yellow and taste good.  Put bark down when it turns muddy.I have used paving slabs around the feeder and watering points so as to keep the areas mud free for me and me chucks. When/if your bark does start to smell (and I doupt yours will) as you have a good sized run you just replace it with new.  The pop hole openers are a fantastic.

Oh and if you get mud on your boots and you then walk on hipped stone/gravel its going to cling and your going to walk it everywhere. 

Have you considered a sand box? About the size of two chickens mad of wood and filled with sharp sand. Its good for them to bath in. Unless you have my chucks who still choose to make an earth bath!!!

[Flowerpower136]

OK........never heard of a sand bath!  But will try anything once   Would it need to be kept dry?

Ground is pretty trampled and compacted at the moment because we spent all of last week constructing the pen and house.  Trust us to pick the hottest week of the year to carry out heavy construction.  Phew!

I've been throwing grass seed around, and some has germinated, so will keep up with seeding to get as good a cover as I can, though don't expect it to last long once they get in there.

I just can't wait, I keep going and sitting in the pen, and I've even had a lie down in the hen house .  It's really nice!  I think they'll be happy.

Anyway, I think I'm reassured that we don't really need a roof.  I would hate to have one, and it would be more cost.

[Roughlee Handled]

...............Would it need to be kept dry?..............

No the water will drain out of the it. Mine is made of wood 12 inches deep and has sand in it. Oh has no bottom.

...............I've even had a lie down in the hen house ........

either your very small or you have a very big coop.

[karlooben]

place down woodchips or bark as some ppl call it , ask around any of your local tree surgeons as most are only to willing to get rid of what they have . one thing u must not do { i learnt from experience } dont put it in the run when its already waterlogged you will get filthy beyond words  . i never put none in until the girls had been in there quite a while an  never again the next lot are going in when we have another heatwave .

p.s i give the grass a week at the most  .

you'll love watching the ex batts learning all about the outdoors i know i did and watching them stretching out thier wings having a sunbath on a hot day is so lovely to see you'll literally be able to see the happines in thier eyes .

[joyfull]

you could always buy turf - cheap from b*q to put down and replace it periodically 

[tonethebone]

I'd agree with joyful.
I originally seeded the run with grass seed which grew OK. Along come chooks and it soon dissappeared!
So I've just got a couple of turves from B&Q at a couple of quid each and laid them down.
Usefull when I have to keep them in their run (they mostly free range in the garden.)

[dizzylizzie]

SNAP! we have 6 ex-bats to be picked up on the 1st aug...... we are also very excited
our chickens pen is under trees also, and actually i spoke to the chicken lady today and she said bark is good also..... so thats what we are useing. take care

[Flowerpower136]

Brilliant.

Thanks for all the input.

Hadn't thought about turf, which is a bit dumb considering I'm in the horticultural business!!  Tut.   I'm just so used to growing everything from seed. 

I thnk we definately need stepping stones where we are walking, and probably woodshavings/chips in the winter or if the grass can't grow back quick enough (I don't really rate it's chances, if I'm honest!)

I'm wondering about green manure type crops for round the edges of the pen.  Will have to have a look at the allotment section for ideas.  Something cheap, quick and edible would be both aesthetic and good for the girls.

.......This is taking over my life!

[cathangirl]

Your last comment says it all, Flowerpower!  Your life will never be your own again, but boy, it is worth it!!!
cathangirl