Any of you use wood shavings in a small outdoor run ?

[RAREROO]

I have been thinking that when I get my new breeding pens set up, they willl be 5x12 with 5x8 of that being unsheltered and open to the rain, and sometimes the runs can get a bit muddy and messy and I was wondering if it would work to put a light layer of sand down and then put wood shaving over the top of that. After it rains would the shavings dry back out easily after the chickens start scratching them up? I just want the pens to look neater than haveing just a bare dirt floor. What do you all think ?

 

[peepacheep]

I think we get a tad more rain here in Oregon

Even with a covered run the wood shavings that spill out of my coop turn into a sour mess on top of several inches of sand. Makes for great compost but what a smelly mess to clean out. Might be different in your climate.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Anything organic in an area that gets muddy will just make more mud

Put enough sand that the water runs away from the run

 

[elmo]

I have a thick layer of play sand in my runs and I love it. Dries quickly, dries up the poop, easy to clean with a kitty litter scoop and the chickens love to dust bathe in it.

 

[ksct]

we tried wood chips and straw. straw is better but still not ideal...
SAND is 100% the way to go.
Ideally I'd like to have half sand and half grass but they poop all over the grass and it quickly turns to mud. SO after that happened... we put a layer of @ least 3" of sand through out the run. WORKS GREAT! they eat it, they take dust baths in it, it keeps the smell down and clean up, if you decide to take any poo out... is EASY!
Also, getting it delivered or if you have a truck get it that way... bags are really expensive when you are talking about that much sand.
Hope that helps!

 

[patandchickens]

If you are on extremely sandy soil, it might be ok (although plain sand would still drain better than sand with wood shavings in it).

But anywhere else, it may look tidier than dirt for a while but as time goes by the runs will become more water-retentive and muddy and damp.

Honestly I'd suggest just dumping a whole lot of sand or similar inorganic fill into there.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat