Anyone have success with gravel in uncovered run?

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kiwiegg

kiwiegg

Songster
10 Years
Jul 7, 2009
184
6
111
Minnesota
Hi everyone. Getting ready for winter and the run is ready for a permanent ground cover. The chooks have taken care of the grass roots for me. I'm thinking that I should put some long term landscape fabric down then a couple of inches of pea gravel. Anyone have any luck with this or any other method? Thanks!
 
Wouldn't the chickens dig up the landscape fabric? It seems that the fabric might be a problem to work around if it were exposed.

Weeds aren't likely to be a problem with the chickens eating everything in sight. When they kick the gravel out into the yard, will it be a problem for mowing?

I used river sand, larger than typical sand granules, but they worked it into the soil after several months. Everything still drains well, but it is no longer a cover for the soil in the run.

I don't know what would be best. Given the chickens' proclivity for digging, it seems that keeping some sort of cover is temporary at best.

Chris
 
We have 17 chooks and everyone seems very happy. Chris, I would not be putting landscape fabric down for weeds...there will never be any plants of any kind growing in the run! I figured if I put down enough gravel I could periodically rake it and the stapled down fabric would still allow for drainage. I mow my yard at over 3 " so I would not be worried about some gravel escaping, I don't know if you can see in the pic but there is a sideways dug-in 2x6 around the perimeter of the run that would keep gravel in too. Overall I'm not seeing any evidence of this working for anyone so I'm now considering putting a a few inches of leaves in the run to see me thru the fall. I would like to make less muddy for walking in the run and the eggs have been muddy since we had a lot of rain a couple of days ago too. I figure the wet/poopy/muddy/decomposing leave will be great spring compost anyways.
 
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