Re: Chickens on the run!

"keith kent" <keith3@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:BT3qj.1270$wH5.1020@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


--
l" <news@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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keith kent wrote:

Hi , I have just finished their new home & in the process of making
the enclosure, then i will start to think what to do will the barren
soil about 4 m square in front of house/run?

The best option is to cover it with permeable ground cover membrane to
prevent the soil coming up and mixing.
Then cover this with 4-6 inches of the coarsest bark you can find.
You can then use this area to create a "play pen" for them with logs,
branches, hanging veggies etc.
Never leave veggies or any quickly decomposable material on the ground
for more than a day --its one of the surest ways to attract vermin and
can cause botulism in the birds.

Bare soil and chickens is a BAD idea, except in desert like conditions.
Bare soil and chickens in the winter is a very bad idea. Its the recipe
for bacterial soup. YUCK


Hi Jill ,So you are saying it is best to put a weed fabric over the soil
,then the bark.I was thinking of letting the enclosure grow wild, bad
idea?

Yes -- cos it won't
<grin>
Its far too small, the birds will not give it a chance to regenerate. It
would need 9 months at least to create a sward that is of sufficient vigour
and longevity to stand up to the birds for more than a week or two.

So it is best to put down weed fabric,bark,then branches and other things
to interest them in the enclosure which is about 1.5m high x 2m L x 1.5 w

Sounds like chicken heaven

..The
4m x 4m is bare soil infront of the run/enclosure which they will be free
to roam in the day ,any ideas for this?

Do the same as above. - then more so.
12ft is not a viable space. -- sorry

--
regards
Jill Bowis

Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment, Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Working Holidays in Scotland
http://www.kintaline.co.uk


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