[BigMark]

OK a couple of days into chicken keeping and LOVING every minute of it even though it may be a couple of weeks before my first eggs.
I have a couple of basic questions for you guys.
Firstly OMG chicken poo a LOT! any tips on clean up in the run?
Secondly, I am not happy with the amount of space my girls have in the run so would like to get some form of portable run that can be moved around and then put away when not in use. I'm a bit cash strapped after buying the coop/run etc so budget suggestions very welcome.
Cheers
mark

[chickenlicken]

Hi there and welcome,

We have only had ours 3 weeks so very new too and can probably only help to confirm what you have just said - YES!! they don't stop pooing!  We have just erected a trampoline for the children and combination of bare feet, trampoline and chicken poo not good.  Just in from new project - fencing off the bottom part of the garden for our little flock!!

We have a smallish run (2.5M x 1.5M) but let the chickens free range for 2-3 hours each afternoon, I love having them out but have found the mess just too much.  We have enough room to move the run and house every two weeks and have been digging the ground over to refresh and adding a bit of lime powder, must admit I don't pick up the poo in the run during those 2 weeks, just works its way into the mud and bark!!!

Hope you enjoy your new arrivals, how many??

Tracey

[andreadon]

We scoop up the poo in the morning (after they've been up a couple of hours) and again in the evening once we've shut them in their house.
It keeps it down without being too much of a chore (it only takes a couple of minutes).

We also let them out into the garden for a couple of hours (each day in the summer) or for whole blocks of time at the weekend.  At least one of us is always outside with them just in case mr fox comes to visit.

How big is your run anyway?

[colliebird]

Don't forget, it is garden lime you need, you can buy it at garden centres.  I didn't know there were various types of lime, some of which are dangerous  (quick or burnt lime which is very caustic) and others used in mortar etc.
I just sprinkled it on the ground then raked it over just a bit.

Hope this helps.

Valerie

[BigMark]

We have 3 ladies and the run is 2.5m by 1m.

What do we use lime for?

[cathangirl]

To make the ground sweeter.  It could get a bit ripe otherwise.   :blink:
cathangirl

[BigMark]

ahhh, right!!!!
So chuffed, they all went to bed without outside help tonight, yeay!!!!

[chickenlady]

Yes chookies poop 'I would say' every 30 seconds  Hubby wont watch the chooks when we havin dinner cause he says when ever he looks at them they poop!  They say 1 m2 minimum per hen for run space! I bought a small animal pen today for the chicks which is 4 panels that can be put together in different ways (max space 3m2 if against 2 walls) it cost 24.99 from Rookes pet store in spalding has a net you put over the top too to stop them jumping out, it really good!  bet you not got much done today? i can easily lose a few hours just feeding, watering, cleaning, playing and watching my girls  :happy: In fact all i did today was the food shopping! the rest of the day has been taken up with chicks and chooks! I LOVE IT 

[BigMark]

Shame they dont do mail order, that pen sounds just the ticket!!
Never thought of myself as a "bird fancier" but you really can watch these little cuties for hours ha ha ha

[chickenlady]

I will get the company name off the box for you! maybe other places do them!?

[BigMark]

thanks hun, really great if you could do that for us

[treacleminer]

Hi all
I've found the extra run fencing which omlet sell useful - I think it's actually the green electric fencing without the energizers.  Not cheap though.

Chickenlicken - my chooks love the area under the trampoline - nice and dry when it rains and the children always wear socks anyway......_{yes I kno much harder to wash but try telling them that!}

[Foxy]

You can also use green builders mesh to make temporary runs, 50m is around £25.

[chickenlady]

thanks hun, really great if you could do that for us

No probs! here you go....Item is deluxe small animal play pen (4 panels measuring 93cmx63cm with safety net) we made ours up as a square which measures 1 m2 but if you put it in a corner it will enclose 3 m2 and net will still fit on top i think.
Manufacturer is Rosewood pet products based in Shropshire
Telephone 01952 883408
Email sales@rosewoodpet.com
Website www.rosewoodpet.com
Hope this helps

[BigMark]

Thanks so much for the details and thanks for the tip on the builders mesh Foxy, i'll have a look into these.
Cheers
M