Best surface for a bare earth run?

[frgntd]

We are putting the finishing touches on our coop and run to be ready for our chicks to move out of the brooder box. What have you found to be the best surface for a bare earth run? What about a covered run with a cement floor? I've pretty much decided on pine shavings for the coop itself.

 

[chfite]

I put 4 - 6 inches of sand on the soil. Chickens keep it turned over in the course of scratching, so no mess to worry about. It drains well, so no wet spots. Concrete, on the other hand, would require cleaning from time to time and would be expensive to install.

Chris

 

[Alaskan]

I would be greatly against concrete (except as an edging under the fence to keep out predators and perhaps as a coop floor).

Chickens are so happy with a dirt run. They can find worms and other bugs and have lovely dust baths.

A scrap piece of wood just tossed in the run will collect slugs, worms, and bugs that will be exposed when you flip the wooden board.

Chfite is correct, a run covered in sand will be much cleaner, but I haven't gone to that much trouble.

My dirt run never gets that bad.