What to put on ground of chicken run?

[chickbliss7]

I'm currently building a second chicken run, and am wondering if anyone can suggest a ground material to use, other than straw (which we have in the first pen) or wood shavings? The wood shavings would blow away, since we live on a windy hill, and I worry about mold in the straw, a problem in the winter here. Is there anyone out there who has found the perfect run material?

 

[Ridgerunner]

As you can see, chickens hate snow. They won't go anywhere near it. It just scares them silly. It's common knowledge on this forum that chickens will not, just absolutely refuse, to go on snow.

That is, unless they do. Normally mine avoid snow the first day or so but one will eventually get brave enough to go outside and the rest soon follow. This snow fell during the day while they were out and they just never came in.

 

[kcfuerst]

Sand Sand and more sand!!! Did I say I vote for sand? Gotta have sand! Sooo easy to clean.

I made a "sifter" out of two wooden fence stakes and nailed some 1/4" hardware cloth to it and when I rake up stuff I just throw it on the Nifty Sifter, give it a couple of good shakes. Only the poo stays on board and then it gets dumped into a bucket.

Nine hens provide 2.5 gallons of poo each week for the compost pile. Don't have to throw away anything except the poo. Yahoo!

Nice.

 

[Amethyste]

I have dirt <from what used to have grass /sigh>, then a good layer of lime and sand, then DE, then I have wood chips...the medium landscaping bark. Drains really nicely! And it breaks down by end of the rainy season so there a lot of yummy bugs there too

In the winter tho I throw in peat moss over the top to a) help with drainage and b) keep thier feet from touching the iced over run

In the fall, I have my husband throw in all the old leaves off the trees for the birds to destroy and tear up. It seems to work great!

But the wood bark is great...no instances of splinters or anything...I got the idea from a friend who has aviaries, plus a few people here on the boards.

 

[Country Heart]

Thanks so much for asking this question - I was wondering the exact same thing.

I have consulted quite a few books, but none of them seem to agree on what's best.

I'm going to subscribe to this listing to hopefully get some insight from the folks who really know what works.

 

[Quillgirl]

I have a mixture of sand, peat moss, wood shavings, and dirt. Sand and peat moss seem to make the biggest difference.

 

[chickbliss7]

Yes, my feed store sells wood shavings by American Wood Fibers in compressed bags of 5 and 8 cubic feet. One of each covers my 8' x 10' coop when I clean it out completely.

Sand it is! Thank you for your suggestions about floor coverings for pens. And perhaps some peat moss--what does this add--aeration?

 

[chickendude]

Quote:
Do you use powdered lime? That sounds like it may help with the smell.

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

Gravel or limetone fines (small pebbles of limestone) work great you can rake it. Wood chips rot/mold and get muddy. For the limestone "set up" and stays put - yet I can rake it when needed.

 

[Lil Chickie Mama]

You should use rice hull!!! Please take them off our hands! Oh, and DE works wonders for smell and pests.