Anyone have success with gravel in uncovered run?

[kiwiegg]

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!

 

[kiwiegg]

http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj626/chookie14/2012-10-14181002.jpg

 

[chfite]

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

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj626/chookie14/2012-10-14181002.jpg

Oh, very, very nice. If I only had a few birds, I'd totally want that. It's gorgeous.

 

[kiwiegg]

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.