Bedding in Run

[britinpa]

We are nearing the run completion so our 6.5 week olds should be going out end of this week. We picked up a trailer load of wood chips from a local guy and have filled half the run area. The chips are all different sizes, some really small and some large, long pieces - is this suitable for them at this age - is it too harsh for them - was thinking of adding sand? I was also thinking of leaving the other half as is - or should I cover that with bedding too? I would really appreciate your thoughts.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

We have used mulch without problems. We also mix in a little bit of everything you mentioned as well as more stuff like grass clippings and fall leaves. It makes for a more exciting substrate.

Everything in moderation so it composts, and doesn't rot or mold.

 

[RoosterML]

You could just leave it as grass which is great for them. If and when it starts to get muddy only at that point would I add in some sand and/or wood chips.

 

[donddon]

Eventually your chickens will do their own decorating, and the mulch will be spread out everywhere. I use only wood chips in my runs, and there is no odor and never wet or muddy. I add a few buckets of chips a few times a week. They love digging through it and leveling it.

 

[IamRainey]

My flock has the native clay soil the coop and run were built on. I've loaded the pine shavings that I clean out of the coop into the run. They scratch it all out in time. I add bags of sand to the holes they dig from time to time just to even up the surface for humans to walk on. But native soil, in the end, does the trick just fine. ...so long as you dig in your hardware cloth deep enough that they don't dig out and predators don't dig in. And don't discount the hens digging abilities. They can -- and DO -- go 9" deep in adobe clay! Meanwhile, it provides them all the dust bathing they require.

All that said, it's worth mentioning that I live in a very dry climate where muddiness is never an issue. You may need to consider drainage.

 

[Flockincrazy]

I layed sand then mulch and you can leave the other half but just so you know when the grass is gone it will become mud

 

[britinpa]

We have used mulch without problems. We also mix in a little bit of everything you mentioned as well as more stuff like grass clippings and fall leaves. It makes for a more exciting substrate.

Everything in moderation so it composts, and doesn't rot or mold.

Thank you! I may buy a bag or 2 of sand to mix in for now - we have plenty of leaves in the fall, so I will mix some of that in too later.

 

[britinpa]

You could just leave it as grass which is great for them. If and when it starts to get muddy only at that point would I add in some sand and/or wood chips.

Thank you - there is a bit of grass there, and a lot of weeds, but I'm sure they will like it.

 

[RoosterML]

Thank you - there is a bit of grass there, and a lot of weeds, but I'm sure they will like it.

They love the weeds also!!

 

[britinpa]

My flock has the native clay soil the coop and run were built on. I've loaded the pine shavings that I clean out of the coop into the run. They scratch it all out in time. I add bags of sand to the holes they dig from time to time just to even up the surface for humans to walk on. But native soil, in the end, does the trick just fine. ...so long as you dig in your hardware cloth deep enough that they don't dig out and predators don't dig in. And don't discount the hens digging abilities. They can -- and DO -- go 9" deep in adobe clay! Meanwhile, it provides them all the dust bathing they require.

All that said, it's worth mentioning that I live in a very dry climate where muddiness is never an issue. You may need to consider drainage.

Thank you! Our hardware cloth is 2ft out around the perimeter, so I think it should work good. It's been dry here lately, we really could do with some rain. Our soil here is very shaley, so there are lots of large and small stones beneath the surface.