[CHICKEN LICKEN]

Hello, my first post here. I'm about to purchase my first birds in the next week or so. I've read lots on general care and keeping but I have a couple of questions.

I'm currently digging up a flower bed in my garden, where I'm going to put my house & run. I'm going to put bark chippings down as I've been led to believe this may be the best material if the run is going to be static.
This being the case, should I line the bed with some sort of cover before putting the bark down? Or will the chooks be annoyed with this because they cannot get to the bugs in the ground?

I'm also looking to buy some Sussex hens - any comments?

[Shazzer]

hI I have bark in my run and I don't have anything underneath its like you say they like the bugs, but if thats not the case someone on here will let you know, this site is fantastic for info.  I have 6 hens 3 of which are sussex, I have a light, red and a white one. They are lovely.  I have a maran, Aracana and a barnvelder as well, they all lay different coloured eggs.

[CHICKEN LICKEN]

Thanks Shazzer. How much did you pay for them, and how many eggs per bird do you get on average?

[Aunt Sally]

Welcome Chicken Licken  

You pays your money and you takes your choice with chooks  :roll:

You just have to find out what suits your situation.

If your hens are to stay in the run all the time and it is large enough with part of it covered from the weather and a good layer of bark chips, it will be fine. Then chooks will dig it over and incorporate the bark into the soil.  You can then just add some more chips.  A dusting of lime occasionally will correct the soil pH and keep it 'sweet'.

My two hens are in a small run 3x6ft, so to keep it usable I have put a membrane under the bark.  My hens free range my garden a good bit of  the time so get plenty of digging and bug finding practice too  

[chickychick]

hmm so what is the purpose of the bark chippings?  

I am wondering if I should get some for my run which is about 17ftx17ft and not covered (yet) just have 4 hens.

[Aunt Sally]

I'd just leave it as earth - it's huge for 4 hens.  If it's partly covered that part won't get to be a mud bath in the winter.  You can add some bark or chopped straw to stabalise it if needed in winter.

[muntjac]

bark chippings arent for the chickens .its cos the owners dont like getting muddy feet when they go in the coops is all .tyhe chucks would dig in the soil anyways i just turn the soil over every few weeks and as anty says add a sprinkle lime , when you do move the coop make sure you dig the ground over and plants cabbages etc . they will be hugemungus

[Aunt Sally]

bark chippings arent for the chickens .its cos the owners dont like getting muddy feet when they go in the coops is all

Exactly so Munty  :!: It also stops a few wet foot problems in winter for the chooks.  Expecially the feathery footed ones.

[chickychick]

aha so it stops getting messy feet for humans and chickens I see, so I will wait and see how it goes and will lime a little bit when I dig over, thanks for that   sheesh there is so much to learn!

[GrannieAnnie]

And you'll never stop learning either CC!!!  I have learnt so much more this past couple of weeks since we decided to try our hand at rearing day olds!!!

[Aunt Sally]

Don't forget the pictures grannie  

[Sadgit]

lime? so I stick 10 limes from tesco's in my run as well?

seriously, what kind of lime and where would I get it? cheers

[muntjac]

bash him anty :roll:

[Aunt Sally]

Consider yourself bashed sadgit.

Garden lime  :!: Silly boy :roll:

[CHICKEN LICKEN]

Ok - still non the wiser. Muntjac, my main run is going to be static. The reason for the bark chips is so that my chickens don't experience Somme like conditions in the winter. The chooks  are only able to range in my very small garden at weekends.

 So when I lime the soil do I need to keep chickens away? For how long?