Coop Run flooring suggestions

[flrn]

I have a chicken run that is 8' x 8' and currently there is just dirt on the floor. I will have 6 chickens and live in SWFL where it gets very hot, humid and rainy in the summer months. I've been living with the dirt prior to this new flock of hens, but wanted to do something new to the flooring so that the girls will not have wet feet during summer, and reduce the smell too. I've thought about both contractor sand vs mulch chips and it looks like each have their own benefits. I've never done mulch chips so wouldn't even know what kind to get. Any suggestions on either way for areas that are more wet during 1/2 of the year?

 

[Birdsong 82]

The coop or run?

 

[mowin]

I'm new at this too. Time will tell if it works, but I put a 2" layer of sand down, then 3" of course wood chips. I didn't use mulch, as it's much finer. Don't use cedar chips. Cedar is toxic to chickens.

 

[FT Chickens]

I have a chicken run that is 8' x 8' and currently there is just dirt on the floor. I will have 6 chickens and live in SWFL where it gets very hot, humid and rainy in the summer months. I've been living with the dirt prior to this new flock of hens, but wanted to do something new to the flooring so that the girls will not have wet feet during summer, and reduce the smell too. I've thought about both contractor sand vs mulch chips and it looks like each have their own benefits. I've never done mulch chips so wouldn't even know what kind to get. Any suggestions on either way for areas that are more wet during 1/2 of the year?

Hello. Being this is for your outside run whatever you choose probably will not last for an extended period of time. You will be able to experiment with different materials. Then you can choose what works best for you and the chickens. Good luck!

 

[DobieLover]

In the north, a lot of municipalities have huge free piles of wood chips from chipping curbside branches and old Christmas trees. I get a pickup truck load and spread the chips about 4+ inches thick. You rake them weekly or whatever is necessary to mix the droppings into the chips. Everything will decompose.
I think the sand will wash away in a run without a roof and it will eventually work it's way down into the soil. The wood will decompose but it will take a while. And up here, adding more wood chips is, again, free.
Being that you are in FL and your run is staying wet 1/2 the year you will not get rid of the smell. If there is any way to put a solid roof over your small run, that would help greatly with managing your run.

 

[FT Chickens]

I'm new at this too. Time will tell if it works, but I put a 2" later of sand down, then 3" of course wood chips. I didn't use mulch, as it's much finer. Don't use cedar chips. Cedar is toxic to chickens.

Love your avatar mowin!

 

[flrn]

The coop or run?

The Run outside the coop. I'm using sand and PDZ inside the coop and love how it cleans up so fast and no smell.

 

[flrn]

In the north, a lot of municipalities have huge free piles of wood chips from chipping curbside branches and old Christmas trees. I get a pickup truck load and spread the chips about 4+ inches thick. You rake them weekly or whatever is necessary to mix the droppings into the chips. Everything will decompose.
I think the sand will wash away in a run without a roof and it will eventually work it's way down into the soil. The wood will decompose but it will take a while. And up here, adding more wood chips is, again, free.
Being that you are in FL and your run is staying wet 1/2 the year you will not get rid of the smell. If there is any way to put a solid roof over your small run, that would help greatly with managing your run.

I do have a roof over half of the run.

 

[mowin]

Love your avatar mowin!

Thanks I do whole hog cooks for extra cash.

 

[FT Chickens]

I am a very amature smoker, i started with an electric maybe I will graduate and work my way up to wood someday