Best material for chicken run

[WindsorChicken]

Good morning friends!
What is the best material for putting down on to the ground for inside the chicken run?
Is a mixture of hay and white pine shavings ok?
For inside the coop I was told that Koop Clean was the best.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Plain, untreated mulch, dirt if the run is covered or sand.

 

[TwoCrows]

Depends on whether you run is covered or not? I use pine mulch in my runs, very clean, easy to replace or remove, doesn't get all matted when wet. The chickens will scratch and turn it enough so it doesn't get moldy.

 

[NatJ]

What is the best material for putting down on to the ground for inside the chicken run?
Is a mixture of hay and white pine shavings ok?

Yes, that should be fine.

"Best" depends on where you live, your weather (especially how much rain and humidity), whether your run is covered, what material is cheap/free for you...

Many people like wood chips (sometimes available for free from tree-removal companies.)
Some people really like sand (usually those people live in dry climates.)

Some people use a mixture of whatever dry plant matter is available: wood chips, shavings, hay, straw, shredded paper, dry leaves, pine needles, weeds, grass clippings, vegetable peels, etc. Some of those will mat down into a smelly mess if you use too much, but small amounts added to the surface will dry and get mixed in and be fine.

 

[3KillerBs]

Some people use a mixture of whatever dry plant matter is available: wood chips, shavings, hay, straw, shredded paper, dry leaves, pine needles, weeds, grass clippings, vegetable peels, etc. Some of those will mat down into a smelly mess if you use too much, but small amounts added to the surface will dry and get mixed in and be fine.

This.

IMO, a good mix of dry materials is best because it better resists packing and matting -- thus draining better and being less likely to form anaerobic pockets.

 

[aart]

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture
-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.
-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.
-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.
- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.
-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).
There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.
That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 7 years.

Welcome to BYC! @WindsorChicken
Knowing how big your coop and run are, in feet by feet, and how many birds you have.
Dimensions and pics would help immensely.
Also.....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!