Avoiding Muddy Chicken Runs

In this video well look at the options to avoid mud in your chicken run or enclosure. Chickens love to dig and scratch in the soil and it's possible that you start with grass and very quickly end up with bare earth. Add some rain or snow to the mix and soon your chickens could be wading in mud. There are lots of things we can do to reduce the risks or avoid them completely.
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We breed Buff Orpington chickens and have kept them for a number of years. We also keep 3 other breeds as egg layers.
We grow our own food on our smallholding and endeavour to be self-sufficient. Subscribe to see more of our life including self sufficiency videos, recipes, garden tips and chicken keeping.
Opening Music credits: Artist = Earth Tree Healing
Composer = Claudine West
Website = claudinewestmusic.com/earth-t...

[@Not-Susan]

Your chickens always look magnificent and healthy.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you so much 😊

[@jennytaylor3409]

Thank you so much! I don't know how, but you always post and talk about exactly what I need.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Jenny. That's made me smile because we try and post what we're dealing with at the time 😊

[@kimly1546]

Same here

[@leemortimer1740]

Another educational video for us beginners to learn from. Thanks.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You're very welcome and thanks for the compliment 😊

[@heidigilman1941]

Good information! New this past year to chickens, our girls are in a run with bird netting over, too many eagles and hawks around to let them free range. They had great grass last summer but now it’s dirt and muddy with spring. Ive been raking up the hay the goats waste and put in a pile in there, thanks for the info on the hay caution, I’ll switch to the wood bedding or straw

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thankfully our birds of prey are just not interested in chickens 😁

[@victoriakendrick6906]

Glad you touched on this issue about decorative bark.I was about to use it when I noticed an unusual,chemical like smell from the bags when first opened. I stopped in my tracks and didn't use it. I hadn't considered about the issue of mold either

[@EnglishCountryLife]

So glad it helped 🙂

[@set_blocks]

We've been using mulch as ground cover in the rainy season for multiple years now and never had an issue. We do occasionally see moldy bits when first opened, but those go away rather quickly in the open air and also depend on the quality of your mulch. We've experimented with different qualities and it does seem to occur more in cheaper bags. An additional thing to watch out for in cheap bags is bits of plastic and metal! So I'd say definitely go for the mulch that is a little bit more expensive. If done right, it is a wonderful option, that also turns into soil over time.

[@vickyannpaintingwithoils]

When we get snows and muddy conditions the flock likes it when we make a path with straw. Simple. Easy to pick upafterwards. Happy Chickens. You must not have many predators over there across the pond? I mean besides your government. I love the grass grates! I am making grow boxes with their favorite herbs and flowers in it so they can't decimate it, but can taste it as it overgrows. Love these ideas! Your chickens are SO beautiful!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you. Yes, straw is another option but it can hold water so I tend to favour other things as rain rather than snow is our bigger issue. Yes, you have a much bigger predator issue over your side of the pond. We don't have the hawks you do, we do have hawks but not ones which would go after our large chickens. Our largest predators are foxes....there are some others but not many.

[@vickyannpaintingwithoils]

@@EnglishCountryLife How much do you put in their dust baths? We have three bins they bathe away in plus they have a large predator fenced in yard with a bird net over it for those hawks. Since you brought up straw holding water. We use straw and the deep litter method. I have been considering that we use it in our coop (more like a converted cabin) and now I use a hygrometer in it. We have tried the pine shavings but the dust was awful for us so we figured it would be for the chickens as well. Since you pointed out the larger shavings had removed the dust I am thinking of doing that? Will it absorb more of the moisture? Humidity is my concern inside the coop during winter. I don't want them getting frost bite. I would also love to try the hemp but it is so expensive.

[@hw476]

Wonderful suggestions and advice as always. Thank you and Happy New Year. 🙏🏻

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Happy new year! Thank you for being so kind :-)

[@bobtheobald5466]

Loved your video.Tips on getting rid of red mites would be good.Many thanks

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Here you ho Bob, hope this helps kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2mnqKmlqdCBm9U

[@mossynest]

Excellent advice, as always! 🐔🐔 Thank you

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Our pleasure!

[@ABrown-th1ho]

Great suggestions! thank you

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Glad you liked them!

[@mark10601]

Great tips 👍🏻

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Mark 🙂

[@mickybearden9641]

Great Info, and I never thought about using the Pine Shavings in the Run...going to try it....I use it in the House Floor & in the Laying Boxes as well.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

They love pulling the bales apart too plus it saves you a job in spreading it out 👍

[@Mandy-tn1rq]

Thank you Fiona for a very informative and articulately presented video.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you so much for the compliment ☺

[@phenixjiraliving]

This is a great video with awesome advice. So far I'm lucky with my 9 weeks old chicks but the rain has yet to come.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you!

[@planetdoods4360]

Hi Fiona. Love the look of your Buff orpingtons. Very fluffy. Wifey cant wait to get her buffs this year hopefully. Nice informative video as always. Thanks

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you so much. Good luck with the chickens. :-)

[@afolabigbolahan401]

I do love watching your videos i love what you are doing. Thank you very much and continue to be a blessing to us. Afolabi from Nigeria.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you!

[@quranismylife3701]

Love you so much Your farm is so beautiful MashAllah 🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you

[@julianserafica5139]

Beautiful hen

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you 😊

[@VioletHenning]

Awesome advice. We use wood shavings in our coop and i poop pick every morning to ensure they have a clean house daily.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Violet. I poop pick the coops every morning too. Genuinely I think it saves money over time using less bedding, it's a more pleasant environment for the chickens and we get clean eggs! Win, win, win!

[@nl1927]

Wow! Great information! Thank you! We have a fully covered run! Our problem is dust! The girls tore up the grass. Nothing but dust now. No free range time in the winter and limited in the summer because we still work outside the home. We will try the turf saver for this coming summer! Thank you!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

The turf savers are great on limited area's of wear h so glad that we have them

[@MrsBlueEyedBlonde]

I love her voice!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you!

[@dailynature3712]

good information

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you

[@dailynature3712]

@@EnglishCountryLife oh, missed subscribing you- now subscribed

[@bgtrev]

Informative as always. Our new place is just a mud bath that hippos would enjoy so its pallets and straw for us at present. All the best to you both for the New Year.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

With lots of mud, pallets to raise the floor is the best choice. Happy New Year to you Trev

[@brendaj9369]

❤thank you for your response. I fonally got them out of the coop into the run with grapes. It took a while. They love it Just like I thought they would.Thank you so much 😂

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That is awesome!

[@OurSmallholdingAdventure]

Super informative video, thank you for sharing. We use straw or horse bedding depending on what we have the most of. We avoid fresh straw for the horses as it doesn't rot as quickly and we don't have enough space for lots of muck heaps! The chopped rape seed straw is perfect though. Take care! Tracy

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Tracey. I know what you mean about space. It's a constant battle for us too. I put most of my spent woodshavings from the chickens as a mulch straight onto the fruit cage or onto the giant gooseberry bed. The fruit we get is amazing! I was told years ago not to do that as without rotting it down first it would be too acidic. Being me, I ignored that. I think it works because the chicken poop is held in the mulch and only goes into the soil in a diluted form when it rains. That's my theory!!!

[@alex-rh4mn]

hello great video! would be nice to see something on chicken lifecycle, and maybe video about more mature chickens, in the future. :)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks for the idea! I'll have a think about the lifecycle video. I love the idea, but I only really have Gannet who is very old.

[@tonyde6744]

Nice videos. I would like to make a suggestion, How about a video about 3o munites of the chickens relaxing with their soft sounds?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It would be departure from our normal videos but I'll see if I can get some nice calm video in the warm summer months. I find them really relaxing so it would make sense that others would too.

[@keonaskywalker7675]

Oooh a Buff Orpington ASMR... or the English Fowl and Marans... or the young cockerel doing their mating dance...my mind is going into over drive. I would love to see how you select the next cockerel for breeding. I enjoyed how you explained the fertility test. How do you select the next unrelated cockerel? Eg from another breeder? How you decide between Ra and Rameses? Both are very handsome and stand tall. I would also love to see a funny compilation of the young cockerels getting it wrong with the hens to success and how the hens attitude changes toward the cockerels. The mindset. I can promise you this will generate a lot of likes and views on KZbin. I will contribute a lot towards the view count lol. I love animal compilation vids on KZbin.

[@johncspine2787]

I’ve been getting up with my new chicks, sitting with my coffee, listening to their vocabulary increase each day. They are so sweet, a few get up before the others, gather together and peep to each other, trill, and are quieter than later as though they’re afraid to wake the others..it’s beyond adorable!!

[@geoffanddebshipton6797]

Excellent information once again - thank you!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

How are you doing guys?

[@geoffanddebshipton6797]

@@EnglishCountryLife all good here. It’s been a bit of a weird summer, weather-wise, so we’ve had mixed success with our vegetables. Happily sowing seeds for the autumn though! Hope all is well with you. Has the snow gone yet? Spring must be just around the corner...

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@geoffanddebshipton6797 Snow's gone and it was gorgeous out today. Sun shining & birds nesting. Lovely!

[@geoffanddebshipton6797]

@@EnglishCountryLife sounds perfect!

[@BARBSCOUNTRYHOME999]

I was curious and I'm using exactly what u suggest! 😊 New subscriber here and look forward to your videos. 😉

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@iloveschicken6527]

This is great for a bit of rain and mud. I have a flood in my yard! None is going to help me. I just gave extra treats and leaving them in the coop until the water goes down!ugh!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You're right. I was only dealing with mud. A flood is such a dreadful way to start the new year. I'm so sorry.

[@thehighlandhomestead9635]

Some great ideas especially in the current bird flu lockdown. Hadn't considered pallets for the floor before! Definitely a good option for when the chickens have destroyed the grass 🙄

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks - I think we are all facing muddy runs now 😕

[@thehighlandhomestead9635]

@@EnglishCountryLife yeah its no fun at all! Bring on summer 🙈

[@barbsdee3831]

Hi Fiona. Another great informative video. Can you show us how you built the run and enclosure with the green netting please? Is it similar to a polytunnel arrangement. I love all your videos and so happy I found your channel x

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Barb. That's exactly what the structure is. It's a polytunnel frame with bird netting over the top and topped off with green builders debris netting, the type of thing that you see used on scaffolding. Does that help?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I do show how the structures are made up in this video. If you have any questions, let me know 👍 kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaW0maaVbN-WfLM

[@scohid04]

Great Video! Mercifully the chips I got for our chicken run are hardwood chips made specifically for poultry. Unfortunately the freezing temps mean I cant even poop pick now as the chips are frozen together. Id also say we need an 30 minute long video of the 7:38 onward. So cute!!!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Oh my! We still have it quite mild here in Lincolnshire so poop picking hasn't ended yet for me. I hope you're only dealing with frozen poop in the run and not inside the coop?

[@scohid04]

@@EnglishCountryLife Its a eglu cube, so thankfully its still easy to keep nice and clean.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@scohid04 They are incredibly practical coops. A great choice 👍

[@Teeniebfable]

We’re getting our first chickens in a week and I’m currently getting rid of the decorative bark we put down. I will keep a small area just for my dogs as they really like it.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

How exciting! We hope you live having them

[@Damselfly54315]

Equine pellets are great for another example

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We've never tried that - interesting tip!

[@Familygarden88]

Thanks for sharing... very informative. How do you suggest dealing with splashes that make bedding wet?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It is tricky. We put our coops onto slabs and orient the doors away from the wind

[@prepperinireland2240]

We also use equine wood shavings, I love it for bedding. We put used bedding on the compost heap too. What I've discovered this winter is, because our hens are housed in a stone built byre with concrete flooring, a built up wood shaving bedding creates a lot of warmth, so they don't get as cold as with straw or other bedding. Given how cold it is here in Ireland right now, that's a bonus! :)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Ours are very grateful for dry warm floors this week!

[@deeridden3422]

Can I ask where you get the wood shavings from in Ireland please ?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@deeridden3422 I can't help in Ireland but here feed merchants & equine stores all sell it. If you can get your animal feed & bedding from such places, they are cheaper & usually deliver!

[@deeridden3422]

@@EnglishCountryLife ok I will try those stores thank you very much x

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@deeridden3422 Any time - and do ask any questions that you think we might be able to help with when you get the new place!

[@aromaofhope]

In the US, we also have the option of cedar shavings, which I believe should be avoided because the dust can cause health issues. I didn't know that about hay. Thank you for the information. I need to go buy some chopped straw for my flock because their little run is a mess right now!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

If you look for cedar shaving bales for horses many are labelled "dust extracted" and should be OK to use. It might give you an alternative.

[@aromaofhope]

@@EnglishCountryLife Okay, thanks!

[@erikdale9145]

Great ideas and helpful to cut down on waste/extra clean up! Id reccomend medium flake shavings btw if you can use in lieu of fine shavings. They are cheaper bc horse people have to buy 6-30 at a time, and chicken or bird folk ise 1-2 at a time. My henhouse takes 4 and they last a long time in 100⁰ or even -20⁰ here in MN as long as the condensation stays down. I'll have to do another video on henhouse and the med flake shavings Smart to give them one to separate themselves, never thought of it!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks! I'll have a look at the price difference here to see how the medium flakes compare. Great tip.

[@erikdale9145]

@@EnglishCountryLife on rewatching it looks like their definition of medium and what we'd consider large flake are different. However, def the dust on the fine particle items w chicks is a huge thing people run into not even thinking on it

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@erikdale9145 For exactly that reason we buy the dust extracted shavings. You make a very good point about chicks.

[@brendaj9369]

I thought this would be a good idea for my chickens for the winter. I removed the grass bedding from the run and put this large flake wood chips in the run. I was so excited I thought they would love it. They will not come out of the coop. They are scared to walk on it. I don't know what to do. I never thought they would be scared of it. They are 7 months old.😢

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Grass is the best flooring because it allows them to forage, but as they graze it off, it will become muddy over time. Now that you have the large flakes, if they won't come out, some encouragement is needed. You can either physically pick them up and take them out of the coop, or put their feeder in the run so to access it they have to come outside, or put some treats in the run so they can only get them if they come outside. It's just getting them past the initial fear.

[@reneebrown2968]

A large sandy area might be good if you have a smaller pen.

[@LLjean-qz7sb]

What kind of chickens are those? They are beautiful and very fluffy! Very entertaining and informative! God Bless!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi! They are Buff Orpingtons - a traditional dual purpose breed

[@shirleymerrell8949]

Hi, your chicken are beautiful! Do you think the large shavings would be OK for bantams? Thankyou!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I think they would be absolutely fine 🙂

[@reneebrown2968]

Once my hens eat the grass I plan on adding compost to the bottom of the pen.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

What is the compost for?

[@peforster6725]

Sand or used coffee grinds are options as well.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I bet coffee grounds smell great!

[@p_roduct9211]

I don't own any chickens but love your content and simply watching your feathered beauties! Do you turn any of the straw or shavings soil after the winter season to turn into compost (eg. for a year or few months... Or are they ready to use as fertilizer right away? 6:28 another friend in the back 🐦 Not sure what breed that is. Greetings from Canada 👋💜

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi! That's a female blackbird outside the cage 🙂 All straw will get composted. The compost gets used on our veg beds and in sack growing potatoes (we have a video on that). The shavings mostly become a mulch for our fruit cage and currant & gooseberry bushes You can see that in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6aTfphqlN96eac

[@kittylynn7753]

Love your program and the Buffs! Why do you use the blue fabric covers over the runs, and do these stay in place through all the seasons? I am concerned about the mud and wonder if the covers will help.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi! Almost all the time our birds free range. They were in the runs over Winter to comply with Avian Influenza restrictions (explained below) kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaW0maaVbN-WfLM The blue green fabric was there to prevent wild bird droppings getting into the enclosure although it does keep out most rain (its fine mesh builders debris netting)

[@jpsjps6678]

Very informative as ever. We are about to move a coop and replace it with a better one. How would you feel about putting the coop on a concrete slab for either part or all of the run ? They will free range in the garden somedays when they are allowed to again ? Is an area to scratch in always needed I guess is the question?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I know of quite few people who keep their coops and runs on a concrete pad although they all put in straw or woodshavings on top as well to keep the chickens occupied. Concrete can work well but there are three issues with that that can be easily solved: 1) It's boring for the chickens so extra things to keep them occupied will be needed e.g. straw as mentioned, things to climb and perch on. Basically anything they can explore 2) The smell and mess. There is nothing to absorb the faeces and a single chicken produces more poop than I ever imagined before I kept them. In summer, the smell and flies may be a problem. Again a floor covering on top such as straw or woodshavings will absorb some of the smell and can be regularly raked out and replaced. 3) They'll still need to be able to dustbathe to clean themselves so adding something like an old tin bath filled with red builders sand would do the trick. Does that help.

[@keonaskywalker7675]

Hello Fiona and Hugh, Happy new year. A lovely video for 2021 with my favourite feathered hens. How are the old English hens managing? I remember you mentioning they are very active and you were concerned about them being enclosed. I won’t lie anytime I see your hens as the thumbnail for your videos I click so fast, it’s a guilty pleasure and perfect clickbait. I love the suggestions mentioned here in the video, it’s been raining so much lately and the leaves from the trees have fallen and covered the grass underneath. The chickens have definitely turned their patch of the garden into a mud bath. Their enclosure is also not letting much light from overhead as I covered it to follow current bird flu guidelines. May I ask is it worth sowing the rye grass seeds you mentioned now to recover their patch of grass or later in the year when we have more sun light? I have purchased them after your suggestion and I’m very excited to use them. I also have a confession to make, I purchased some mulch from a DIY store and used it in some parts of the chicken enclosure/garden space. I have had it for a few months and not replenished the mulch as the hens don’t go there whilst they are in an enclosure also it’s towards a tree line at the back of my garden. What should I do about the mulch? Will my hens get poorly? Should I remove it, make it into compost? Burn it? 2 of my young hens have started to lay their 1st eggs this week. I’m very proud mum and also concerned. I was confused as it’s winter and they hadn’t gone through “full puberty” I thought their natural instincts would tell them to wait and lay eggs in spring. I have made sure they are eating well from your video on how to supplement their diets for winter. I would also like to know are oyster shells good for hens to increase calcium into their diet for their bone health and egg shell health? Or should I ground their egg shells into a powder and feed it to them? Sorry for all the questions, but I know I don’t feel confident or comfortable unless I can find the answers in your videos. Thank you both.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi! Happy New Year! Ooo, lots of questions, but don't worry. We'll go through each one by one. :-) Rye grass. Unfortunately it won't germinate until the temperature increases in spring. If you have a heated greenhouse you could germinate it in slabs and add it to the chicken run. I think it would be better to wait until spring. Mulch With mulch there is a LOW risk of mould spores impacting the chickens health. If it's not in an area that they are accessing all of the time i.e. as the main floor covering in their run, I would leave it alone. It really is a low risk. I just wanted to make the point in the video so that anyone thinking of putting into the chicken enclosure for the hens to dig in all day was aware that there is a potential problem. The bark in the run I would remove and add it to your garden borders. I hope that's set your mind at rest. Eggs It's very normal for new hens that were hatched the previous spring to have a delayed "puberty" and come on to lay in Jan - Mar of the following year. This is a delayed timing as their body clocks should have kicked in in Autumn but due to short daylight hours it delays "puberty". There is only so long their bodies can delay the onset of laying eggs so Jan - Mar is normal and is a delay. I promise if they are laying they have gone through puberty so don't worry. What's happening is perfectly normal, I promise. Calcium Both of your suggestions work but the coarse ground oyster shell has the added advantage of acting like a grit that they need to grind grains and food as it passes through their digestive system. Your layers pellets should have sufficient calcium for your laying hens but it doesn't hurt to give them the extra calcium. If you give them egg-shells it's important to dry them in a warm (not hot} oven and finely grind them so that they are not obvious eggs. Again don't worry too much about it; all this is intended to do is prevent the possibility of egg pecking but you would need LARGE pieces for it to be recognisable as egg. I don't mind the questions! Fiona :-)

[@keonaskywalker7675]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thank you both for taking the time to answer my questions. I have learnt so much and still learning I am very grateful. I feel at ease now. I will put into action your suggestions. I also saw this morning that a few mushrooms have grown on some of the mulch, so I am removing them before the hens eat them and get ill. Thanks a million.

[@pseudopetrus]

I use course wood chips, sometimes you can get them for free!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We do when we get hardwood chips, there are some issues with softwood - it can harbour some pests.

[@CygnusOrb]

#1 thing I'm doing is providing plenty of overhang on the roof of my chicken run.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'm guessing yours has a solid roof?

[@CygnusOrb]

@@EnglishCountryLife Yes. I live in an area with extremely rough clay/rock soil. So keeping dry is top priority. Any holes in the ground can quickly become mud pools during rain.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@CygnusOrb That makes complete sense!

[@mirmoomin5846]

Thankyou so much for providing such valuable information😍😘sorry to ask again but can you tell me how much eggs a buff lays before going broody? THANKYOU AGAIN

[@EnglishCountryLife]

They lay around 200 eggs a year. This includes time that they are off lay for brooding & moulting

[@iresearched6873]

Your hens look so happy! Do you also keep roosters? Thank you for all your advice :-)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We do indeed. You can see a little about them in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4q5iYGwZZlne5I

[@user-dl5bo2oz1g]

Hi Fiona Have you tried using pine wood horse bedding as drying out a muddy chicken run.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We haven't. Pine isn't ideal as it can harbour a fungus that is injurious to poultry. It's not a big risk but our tree surgeon friend saves us hardwood chip.

[@susannam1172]

Straw and shavings look lovely. And I suppose doing a few different types areas for them adds to enrichments too :) How high do they fly when free in the garden? In our new house we have a lovely sizeable garden and 4ft fencing and been unsure if (once restrictions lifted) I’d be able to have them roaming or just to live in one area...

[@EnglishCountryLife]

A great question. It depends on breed. In general, the larger the breed the less height they will gain. We have some very light Old English Pheasant Fowl that can fly into our fruit trees easily (around 12ft) but our Orpingtons can only jump to around just under 3ft which is handy as our electric fence is just over 3ft. Brahmas are a similar size and aren't as broody so may be a good choice.

[@susannam1172]

@@EnglishCountryLife very helpful thank you. What breed are the "battery chicken" that are available for rescue? They are what I have in mind. We have met one set of neighbours and they are very nice but not yet the other side. Moving in two weeks, very exciting!

[@victoriakendrick6906]

Like yourself,I love to give my wee flock as much freedom from their secure enclosure as often and as safely as I can.One way is to snip the flight feathers (be careful and research if not sure) of one wing.It goes a long way to preventing flying off high objects into places they are not meant to be. However if ever under attack,flying to a high place would be there only defense. Weigh it up

[@victoriakendrick6906]

The battery chickens are generally isa brown breed.I have one (Abbey) a very proficient high flyer!

[@vickyannpaintingwithoils]

Do you have a position on Diatomaceous earth? You can find anything from it is complete death for chickens or it is healthy for them and a wonderful miracle for chickens. I bought some food grade, but I hesitate to use it. The dust factor and knowing exactly what it is makes me cautious. Would love a video on it. God Bless you.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We use DE sparingly only in their dustbaths. DE is a great absorber of moisture and in fact what it is most useful for but this is also what makes it dangerous if it's not used sparingly and carefully. It is just as good at absorbing moisture in a chickens or humans lungs as it is in coop bedding so it's always a good idea to consider this before deciding whether to use it and how much.

[@andrewjames7150]

Hi Fiona, in one of your videos you showed a child's rake or something to pick the crap up. Where did you get it from? Cheers

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Andrew, it was a Lidl child's gardening set!

[@chittys]

great info,but would the shavings not be blown away in the wind(our garden bark disappeared after a few months.can this be laid in a muddy run with no roof(the coop is obviously enclosed)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It generally gets compacted quickly by the chickens. This year we have a good free source of hardwood woodchip from a tree surgeon friend so we're using that but we've had no problems with shavings and regularly see 40-50mph winds

[@oliverryan7174]

Thank you for the video - very helpful! I've been using hay but shall chop up the remaining and not buy again. May I ask what the green material is that you use to keep the rain off the run?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Oliver! The green material is scaffolding /debris netting. Its a very fine mesh that serves to keep out wild bird faeces but it does also provide some rain protection. We find solid barriers both noisy and they catch the wind! amzn.to/3oi0SQC

[@oliverryan7174]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thank you for your reply! I am looking for something to keep the rain out of the feeders so will give the netting a try. I briefly tried using a tarp but the noise terrified the hens

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@oliverryan7174 We have found the same thing with both tarp & plastic - plus it acted like a kite in 60mph winds!

[@oldmcdonald1759]

Straw may not be best for composting in that most of it has been grown with persistent herbicides that may kill your vegies.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We've never experienced that issue but it's a useful warning

[@rightfromthebible4602]

Hello. You have become my go to for better understanding my Buff Orpingtons. I live in South Carolina, U.S. This is the first time we have had chickens. A little of my situation before my question. I have 4 hens and 2 roosters. All purchased at the same time. They are about 5 months old. I built them a nice home. More than enough room for them. The have a caged in area of approximately 600 square feet. They have access for most of the day to a larger fenced in area approximately 2/3 of an acre. They get well fed from a local grain provider that raises their own chickens. They get scratch from them as well. They look healthy and beautiful. My question is regarding the behavior of one or both of the roosters. They will mount a female but the action looks very aggressive and the hen appears frantic and under duress. It looks more like an attack than a mating process. How would I know the difference?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi! When cockerels (young males) are learning to tread (mount) the hens it can appear quite violent at first. You haven't mentioned if your pullets (young hens) are in lay yet? If not they don't have the hormones that make them receptive to treading so it does feel like an attack to them. In a mixed age flock your cockerels would ignore the younger pullets and focus on the older hens. Older hens are used to the experience & even squat submissively to signal readiness. The other problem that you might have is the ratio of cockerels to hens. We currently have two cockerels to 12 hens, however that is too many. As soon as we have successfully completed fertility testing we will reduce to one cockerel. Orpington cockerels are very amorous and one male to ten females is plenty. Hope that helps.

[@rightfromthebible4602]

@@EnglishCountryLife My hens have not started laying yet. We have a store here called "Tractor Supply". I have some friends that were shopping and bought the chickens for us. They were supposed to be all hens. It turned out that 2 were cockerels. When I saw your video on BO's I thought I would let them grow the flock naturally. My idea was to have them be my two boys and then split them up between a larger flock. I saw your video on how to humanely address any future males. I like your approach and thought I would follow it. Our egg prices here have gone crazy! Here is an example: We used to be able to buy a dozen eggs for less than 50 cents. Walmart sold a box of 5 dozen eggs for $2.42. That same box costs nearly $20.00. There is a strong market here for farm fresh so that is why I was considering the 2 boys and the expanded flock. We really appreciate your response to our questions.

[@ashm5206]

Hi Fiona and Hugh, happy new year! I’ve noticed from your videos that you use greenhouses to grow summer crops but that you also have some polytunnel frames which you’re currently using as chicken runs to comply with the avian influenza regulations. If you don’t mind me asking, how come you use greenhouses but not the polytunnels for crops? I’m just wondering as I’ve used an old greenhouse for years but have recently been offered a larger second hand polytunnel for free (I almost took their hand as well as the tunnel!)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It's mainly because when we 1st got them we hadn't many hedges and being in the flatlands of Lincolnshire the winds can be very strong. We found when we used them we were constantly anchoring them down. Now are hedges are mature and high we could use them as polytunnels. Now we have the question of space as we've utilised almost every square inch of available space 🤣🤣🤣

[@ashm5206]

@@EnglishCountryLife thanks for your reply! Makes a lot of sense and I know the feeling of running out of space, my better half says if they stood still long enough I’d turn them into a planter :)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@ashm5206 That may be grounds for divorce 😳🤣🤣🤣

[@Gman-26]

I know this is a older video but maybe you’ll get to this question. I have the ability to make my own wood chips from many different kinds of trees. I wont use cedar as the dust falls on my fruit trees. Nothing is ever treated with pesticides and I can make small or large sized chips. Is this a option you would consider? I do however like the store bought shavings for the coop but can I use my chips in the run and on muddy areas? I watch a few of your tubes every night. Thanks for all you do.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Lyle! Yes, home made chip is okay. Hardwood chip is much better if you can, reasonably fine and without leaves etc.

[@Gman-26]

@@EnglishCountryLife thank you Fiona. Watching Chicken Communication now. Thanks for getting back to me.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@Gman-26 You're welcome 🙂

[@fordxbgtfalcon]

Lol, I read the title and thought it was about the chickens having diarrhea… 👀

[@EnglishCountryLife]

😂

[@annmccormick2983]

I just binge watched the entire "Chicken Keeping for Beginners", very informative, thank you. I have Buff Orpingtons, at what age do you harvest for meat? The roosters are violently pecking and a rooster and a hen are getting the brunt of it. Our 20 eggs gave us 6 hens and 13 roosters (1 died because it escaped the enclosure). Thank you in advice for your advice and I love your videos.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi! If they are problematic you can begin harvesting at 12 weeks for a smaller table bird of c. 1Kg 26 weeks is as old as we go which should yield dressed weight of 2.5Kg or more. A good sized roasting bird can be had at 16 to 20 weeks. Hope that helps Ann?

[@annmccormick2983]

@@EnglishCountryLife yes that does, very much, thank you!

[@silverpotter6325]

Where do you find range protectors??? Never seen them before..in usa

[@EnglishCountryLife]

This is them in the UK amzn.to/38BxQJ5

[@eviestainton8384]

Is it possible to use grass clippings from a lawn mower as chicken floor bedding or is there anything bad about using it? Also does straw turn into a sort of “sludge” if it is exposed to rain?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Its possible but when grazing they take in tiny pieces. With clippings they can swallow larger pieces that they can't digest. Aldo as soon as the grass starts to rot it can be harmful so we would not recommend it. Hanging up leafy greens for them to peck at (including some weeds like goosegrass is better). Straw takes a long time to break down, but it can get muddy if rain makes the soil underneath wet or it gets fouled with droppings.

[@HusniArsyah]

Your Buff Orpington Chickens are so cute, you need to rub them ^_^

[@EnglishCountryLife]

They are cute

[@jackrussel8898]

I have a garden that has a lot of Loral bushes growing in it is the leaves poisonous to chickens ?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Laurel (other than bay) is highly toxic to humans and animals

[@lynatno1]

I’m wondering…. If I put down the flake covering on dry ground and then it rains for 3 weeks( I’m in Cumbria) what will happen. I think the flakes will still get wet and gradually it will go down and turn into mud. Is that the case?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi, with shavings or wood chip it will depend on the ground and depth of the wood chip. In our new chicken run we have several inches of wood chip and that stays dry at all times. You can can see it here kzbin.info/aero/PLDluIIoNPsld-0nQMmghHx19UkG9bqaDb&si=Ohcwr_L7NiM5mqxi

[@cherylbeswick7327]

What about hard woodchip from a tree surgeon? X

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Whenever we can get it, we use it. It needs to be thorn free (no blackthorn, hawthorn etc.) to avoid injury & bumblefoot & avoid needle bearing wood which can cause health issues. A great chap brings us stuff with those criteria

[@Icluckingloveit]

During 'Flock-down' can we moved our coops and runs around with it being safe? Or do they have to stay in the same area?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You cannot let the chickens loose, but you can move the runs and the coops with the chickens inside for example

[@Icluckingloveit]

@English Country Life Thank you, that really helps me prepare for the next flock-down.

[@nathanhendry9845]

Hello Fiona, Thank you for a very entertaining and educational video. I am looking to keep 4 chickens on my allotment. I have 179sqm would that be enough room for them? Kind Regards, Nathan in Plymouth, Devon

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Nathan, would they have the whole allotment ? Or would a lot of it be for vegetables etc.?

[@nathanhendry9845]

@@EnglishCountryLifeHello Fiona, i have 2 plots of the same size so they would have 179sqm .

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Nathan, its more than enough to qualify as Free Range but they may well graze off all the vegetation - particularly in Winter when not much is growing

[@nathanhendry9845]

@@EnglishCountryLifeHello Fiona, as i only plan to have 6 hens would it be best to use a chicken tractor in order to move them around the plot. That way i can reseed the ground on a rotation?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@nathanhendry9845 We would suggest an electric fence enclosure Nathan - chicken tractors are very small from a welfare perspective

[@akcourtney1]

Can you use pine straw for flooring?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Pine isn't ideal as it has the potential to harbour some harmful organisms. Hardwood is better if you can get it

[@pamcab11]

Are the chickens eating the larger wood shavings? Can that hurt them?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

They do peck at them occasionally but I think its more investigating than swallowing. It certainly hasn't ever hurt them

[@joelsweeney8595]

Would children's play chip wood be any better ? I know they have certain standards that they have to sit too

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I honestly don't know Joel but it's a good thought!

[@CR10.07]

One quick question. When the wood chip gets wet how often do you change it?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Generally we built up a deep layer so that the top layer is dry, we dig it out when the birds are back in the field

[@CR10.07]

Thank you. That helps me.

[@TheStuartYork]

Like your girls mine are also under lockdown. I've a 10m x 4m outside netted enclosure, I covered the roof with a transparent plastic tarp. It kept everything nice and dry, unfortunately, in any sort of wind it was really noisy. I've used your straw idea, but I use grass clippings, now the grass is growing, I dump piles of grass into their run and as you say, the girls take great delight in kicking it around. If I could find a "quiet", transparent tarp, that would be the ideal. Any Ideas? Thanks again. Stuart

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Stuart, we use debris netting. Its close woven enough to keep out wild bird faeces but permeable enough to let wind through. Its also silent! This is a link to our Amazon store but there are other sizes & suppliers! amzn.to/2NEydbc

[@TheStuartYork]

@@EnglishCountryLife Wow! a super fast reply. Thank you for taking the time to respond. Stuart

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@TheStuartYork Any time Stuart, we started the channel to share ideas, so chatting with like minded people is always a pleasure.

[@thifasmom]

Hi can I have a link to the range protector please (maybe add it to the description), I've searched and searched with no success. Thanks in advance.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi! I'm sorry to say that the ones that we use are no longer available, however there are similar products available. This looks to be a similar item amzn.to/3XjrFOh

[@thifasmom]

@@EnglishCountryLife thanks for the info.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@thifasmom No problem 🙂👍

[@rosaloving9106]

How do you keep predators away from your chickens? That tarp and large fence wiring aren’t safe. I use 1/2” hardware cloth which is very strong small hole wiring. I don’t even live out in the country but in a subdivision home in a city. We have raccoons, possums and rats in neighborhood.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We have a number of measures including electric fencing a auto openers/closers on our coops. We've never lost a chicken to a four legged predator in all of the years we've kept chickens. However we have had chickens stolen so now we have security cameras to guard against 2 legged predators. If you're interested, this video shows how we protect against predators kzbin.info/www/bejne/hX3NkpednreietU

[@lynnclark4208]

What breed of chickens do you have? They're quiet and very pretty.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Lynn 🙂. They are Buff Orpingtons - very placid and sweet natured birds

[@garrydownes2868]

I sadly lost the boss hen...it was very odd she was fine one day then visibly ill the next....it was very upsetting to me and my little girl and now there is a bit of a power struggle to whos the new top girl....and the other thing i wanted to ask do they grieve? As her best friend in the koop has been very quiet since she passed away.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Sorry to hear that. Hens often conceal illness for as long as they can because flocks tend to drive off the dick or injured. I don't think they experience things in the way that humans do but upset, change and loss of the familiar definitely upsets them. Do keep an eye on the quiet chicken just in case its a communicable illness.

[@janefromeaglesham5074]

hi Fiona, I just found your instagram and videos last night and I've watched all of them. They're brilliant. I have lavender splash girls but 2 of their bottoms were really dirty and on closer inspection, packed with poo and dirt around their vents. My husband and I gave them a warm bath and the next day I had to use scissors and trim around the area. Its looking a lot better and I can see that they feel better too. I just hope ive cleaned them properly. Do you know why this happens and could you show a video on what to do. They are houses in a run with an Omlet house, under a huge tree but we are just about to move them to a larger area. We have so many foxes that they need to be netted all the way around the run. Also Fiona are you originally from Scotland? We are in Glasgow and I thought I detected a wee bit of a Scottish accent? thanks again for all the work you've both put into these videos. Ive got a shopping list made up as I watched each video

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi, sometimes chickens fail to squat properly which causes this build up. This is most common where they are older or younger chickens. Sometimes the wind blows the poop back onto their feathers and it then builds up with the next poop catching. It's also possible that they have an intestinal issues so if you see any additional symptoms like loss of condition or weight then consult a vet. I do have a video on cleaning them as I have a very elderly chicken called Gannet who does have this issue now and again. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZiVhKKee6yJnJY Yes, I grew up in Scotland but my accent has faded a lot. Well spotted!!!

[@janefromeaglesham5074]

@@EnglishCountryLife there are certain words that you say that are so Scottish. I picked up on it straight away. lovely.

[@janefromeaglesham5074]

I should have said that I'm from Glasgow Fiona.

[@xenedraabourque1393]

First time chicken mommy. I was told by so many other videos they say to use pine in the coop run for mud, would you agree if I can not move mine around? Another question is: What is the best thing to use for the food dish? Mine tend to knock over their food dish I have or water from the rain gets in it.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Pine wood is fine but not pine bark. There are two reasons why not bark. First pine bark harbours a lot of spores that can cause issues for chickens and the second is that bark soaks up water which can prevent mud but instead has your chickens standing on very wet bark which can be just as bad. If you can get hardwood shavings instead of pine shavings this helps drainage so are less likely to keep that water around the chickens feet as well as avoiding harmful spores. Does that help?

[@xenedraabourque1393]

@@EnglishCountryLife Yes thank you for your time to send a reply.

[@dilrubaakhter2608]

Can I keep some chicken in the coop?our neighbour has lots of cats,in this situation perhaps they will become afraid.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It's not something that we would do as chickens are healthier and happier free ranging

[@MarioLopez-ob5rv]

Mam, I noticed your buff Orrington chicken are larger in size than here in USA. Why is that?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

American Buff Orpingtons aren't the same as original English Orpingtons. English Orpingtons are less of a show breed and closer to the original utility strain. Our own strain have been selectively bred for size and temperament

[@andrewjames7150]

And one more thing... when putting the hens in the garden/coop for the first time, do we keep them in the coop for a period time or let roam free immediately?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Will they be in an electric fence or other enclosure Andrew?

[@andrewjames7150]

@@EnglishCountryLife we've got a 2m by 1m coop/run. We put them in the coop overnight. They slept in the run tooked up together rather than upstairs laying bit. Garden is fairly large I guess at 100m2. Given them free range today and they love it. They know where home is in their coop.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@andrewjames7150 If they know where home is, let them range , just check they are in at dusk!

[@andrewjames7150]

@@EnglishCountryLife yeah definitely. Keeping an eye on them

[@josiahgeorge5478]

when ever a hen hatches out chicks, and those chicks become of laying age, and soon breeding age, is the rooster they mate with a rooster who is unrelated to them or is it their brother or father? Just wondering

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Josiah! We always use unrelated cockerels. We have a video on our breeding plan here. Hugh kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHXEfpRue8aqrK8.

[@josiahgeorge5478]

@@EnglishCountryLife oh ok, thats great to hear, i was discussing today with my agriculture teacher about genetic diversity in livestock

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@josiahgeorge5478 We have an upcoming video on fertility testing and genetic introduction that might interest you

[@josiahgeorge5478]

@@EnglishCountryLife thank you, thats great, i saw the video, you buy eggs and choose a cockerel from those I think that is a great and fantastic idea, I hope your hens and you are happy

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@josiahgeorge5478 Yes indeed. The new one (should be out in 2 weeks) covers fertility testing the selected cockerel.

[@Darkfyre755]

How do your chickens not just fly out of your run? Mine do that every day now and they're destroying my gardens

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Mady. Our Winter run is fully netted. Because of avian influenza all birds in England have to be kept indoors or in netted runs right now so no chance of them flying out . In Summer if we have any birds that do fly (Orpingtons rarely fly) then we clip their wings

[@Darkfyre755]

@@EnglishCountryLife ah ok, we don't have the bird flu down here in Australia yet so we haven't had to worry about it. I'll look into trying to get our run netted i suppose, thanks!!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@Darkfyre755 Wing clipping may well fix the problem - especially if there is nothing near the fence for them to jump off 🙂

[@Darkfyre755]

That's something I haven't considered, I'll look into it. Thanks so much!

[@rafaelcolon2031]

I guess you don't have no real mud in your farm, because once you lay the wood shaving or the straw on top of the mud and it mixes with water and chicken poop in the hot sun it's the craziest smile ever, and I'm not even going to tell you how bad it is to clean up...

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Our birds free range through the Summer, but no, we wouldn't keep chickens on soft mud 🙂

[@abdulrashidaziz5142]

First to watch

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Congratulations 👏