The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Sal - I wouldn't cover the green stuff either. I didn't start chipping the kennel run until it was pretty much gone, then chipped it thereafter. Too bad the gate doesn't open out. Any way you could just change the hinges so that the gate would swing to the outside?

 

[armorfirelady]

Then and this is the big issue, our gate swings in and is at the current ground level. Well that created a huge mud spot almost as soon as the run was in use. But to put down a layer of chips, dirt, straw, dried grass, just about anything bio degradable, increases the ground level just enough the door does not swing open. Then the composting starts and the door acts like a stirring device and the muck jams the door open a good 2-3 inches.

I have the same problem. Once it warms up I am going to switch the gate hinges around. That way its easier to get bigger things in like the wagon, rototiller & maybe the snow blower in there.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Sal - I wouldn't cover the green stuff either. I didn't start chipping the kennel run until it was pretty much gone, then chipped it thereafter. Too bad the gate doesn't open out. Any way you could just change the hinges so that the gate would swing to the outside?

I have thought of it, but I would prefer the mud be in the run and swinging out MIGHT turn the grass on the outside to mud as well.

Quote: I like the idea of a removable wood panel for the lower part of the door. Maybe I could manage something like that and have the door swing out as well. Swinging in was nice too as it allowed me to keep any contrary birds inside when I had my production roosters in that area. If they were trying to be mean and escape the door would just open faster with a bit more force from me, shoving them out of the way. But my current roos are all nice so maybe swinging in is no longer needed.

 

[armorfirelady]

While I have no roosters the in swinging door doesn't necessarily stop Stella from charging me when I have food lol. She doesn't hurt me just wants to make sure I don't leave with food

Plus if it swung out I don't have to worry about dogs pushing gate open when I don't latch it when I am in with hens. Normally Lily doesn't push it in but sometimes the smell of chicken poop is to enticing lol (yuck!)

 

[SallyinIndiana]

we have bungee cords that make the door self swing closed located near the hinges and pinned to the center top and bottom of the door. Then there is the bungee cord latch that has a hook on the inside to keep it closed tight when a person is in the run. We don't have a dog, but toddlers like to let chickens out just to play chase.

 

[Shan30]

I have [COLOR=FF0000]a question for those of you that are talking about lots of mud.[/COLOR]

Is the mud you're having in a fenced run area/fenced area?  If not, where is the mud?   

Some of each. Anywhere that sees a lot of traffic from us the dogs or the birds.

The top part of the run is usually pretty bad. It's 30'x30' approx. and used to be grass. From a distance it looks like the run ends there but it's just a perfect line where one rock level drops down to the next. Below is wild roses, salal, huckleberry bushes and trees and it stays pretty nice all year. Sounds odd but our land is an old glacier slide so it slopes along with little drop offs in the rock. About 20 bags of maple leaves in the top half of the run with two new ditches seems to be working a lot better.

If we had more than 6" - 2' of dirt on top of the rock I would dig a rock pit with a drainage line if it was a problem.

 

[RedRidge]

In paths that tend to get muddy i have been using equine bedding Pine pellets. They turn to an interesting powder when they get wet and then pack hard. No mud on those paths now.

 

[Shan30]

Pooticles!!!

Why, yes, I am an adult...why do you ask?

In age, yes me too, but I try my hardest not to be!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I have a question for those of you that are talking about lots of mud.

Is the mud you're having in a fenced run area/fenced area? If not, where is the mud?

Even after sleeping on it, there is something about the fact that some of you innocents would need to ask this question that makes me feel a bit twitchy.

But in the nicest possible way, of course.

(I can't wait until the pasture fairies come and visit!)

 

[lazy gardener]

If only fences would keep mud in... or out!