Run cleanliness and ground cover

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wegotchicks

wegotchicks

In the Brooder
Feb 15, 2017
27
5
34
Tarpon Springs, FL
I have been trying to clean the poop off the ground in the chicken run. A rake doesn't do it and I don't want to pick up with a tiny cat litter shovel or my hands. The ground is just dirt now that the chickens have eaten and dug up all the grass. I tried putting pine shavings on the ground, but they just blow away. I have read about using DE, but is there anything else to add to that that will help keep it healthy for the chickens and easier to get the poop up?
hmm.png
 
You could do sand - many folks like that and it is reported easy to clean, though I would think that rain would quickly soak the poop down into the sand so that eventually the sand would become fouled.
I like a deep litter approach to the run - think of it as replicating the forest floor in that you have layer upon layer of bio-mass. In this situation it isn't about getting the poop "up" but rather the poop becoming part of the substrate
 
Ol Grey Mare said:
You could do sand - many folks like that and it is reported easy to clean, though I would think that rain would quickly soak the poop down into the sand so that eventually the sand would become fouled.
I like a deep litter approach to the run - think of it as replicating the forest floor in that you have layer upon layer of bio-mass.  In this situation it isn't about getting the poop "up" but rather the poop becoming part of the substrate
Click to expand...


Agree
 
Last edited:
DLM = deep litter method

I got bare clay dirt in my RC (run/coop) have considered sand but it was recommended (BYC member) due to the humidity & rain (HI) go with DLM. I'm so glad I did but what makes it even better is having a "poop board" under their roost. Oh yea, Sweet PDZ in the poop board & sprinkled in the shavings.

Never thought having chickens could be so EASY! Chickens work the hard clay loose & I shovel out to use where I need dirt, we got a great system going. I have an "open" RC with shower curtains I close up at night, ventilated 100% & dry. It's been a year & a half LOVE it.



 
A shot of a small coop, using grass hay for the deep litter, plus other stuff now and then, but mostly old, coarse grass hay. Not the a good legume hay like alfalfa, but old coarse grass hay. This stuff is so old and bad no animal would eat it and would starve to death with a full belly if they did.



That is one square bale of hay covering an area of about 8' x 10'. The birds will scatter and spread it. It will last a few months before it rots down to be replaced with another just like it. No mud, flies or odor. Prior to going with a deep litter, this coop had all three.
 

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