Building a chicken run

[Rldad1]

Look for the contractor that your local power company uses to trim trees away from the power lines. They are usually looking for places to dump their truck after the chipper fills it up. I just got a load and it's free.

 

[Corbdee]

Hi, thank you for your response. Sorry, I forgot to mention it. I will have chicken. Most likely around January.

Oh nice . Than I wouldn’t bother trying to put some sod down. Chickens will just dig through it, like @DobieLover mentioned.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The bagged stuff at HD is usually much finer than the tree trimmers chips I get.
...and most will be dyed.

And expensive in comparison. Contact some tree trimmers in your area OP, and see if you can get a load of chips for free or cost of gas. People can't give them away fast enough here.

If all else fails then I'd check a landscape supply for bulk pricing, or if you can't store such a large amount, then the closest product from a big box store would probably be pine nuggets. Most bagged mulches nowadays are dyed - it's very obvious if you look at the bag and everything inside is a very even (and often unnatural) color.

 

[Primicum Bavaricum]

Look for the contractor that your local power company uses to trim trees away from the power lines. They are usually looking for places to dump their truck after the chipper fills it up. I just got a load and it's free.

Exactly, our city giveds it away for free to pick up. That's where I will go and get some. Thanks.

 

[Corbdee]

Ok, I would have 2 questions.
Just building my 10 x 10 chicken run in our backyard. While building it I more or less ruined all the grass where it is now. So there is only dirt left which will be the inside of the run. Would it be a good idea if I would put sod in it? I would also have a dedicated corner with sand, so my chickens would have an area to take a sand bath. Or is it better to leave just the dirt like it is?

Second question. if I may?
I live in SoCal. And it does get hotter and hotter here by the year. Would it be a good idea to install some misters in the run? Of course, I have a roof over it and, on purpose, I built it under a huge tree for shade.

I would so appreciate it if anyone could answer those questions.

Thank you

Hello! How much time in advance are you building the run from when you put them in there? And what poultry are you putting there? Ducks and geese tend to like to rip grass and eat it, but chickens don’t as much, so I would recommend sod if it’s for waterfowl, but If you do, make sure it’s a little bit in advance before you have them in there, so the sod can grow roots. You could also do grass seed and hay and wait about a month for it to grow. About the mister, that’s out of my experience, my apologies

 

[Primicum Bavaricum]

Hello! How much time in advance are you building the run from when you put them in there? And what poultry are you putting there? Ducks and geese tend to like to rip grass and eat it, but chickens don’t as much, so I would recommend sod if it’s for waterfowl, but If you do, make sure it’s a little bit in advance before you have them in there, so the sod can grow roots. You could also do grass seed and hay and wait about a month for it to grow. About the mister, that’s out of my experience, my apologies

Hi, thank you for your response. Sorry, I forgot to mention it. I will have chicken. Most likely around January.

 

[Primicum Bavaricum]

Don't bother with stuff or trying to grow grass back in there. The chickens will just destroy it.
I would add a thick layer of dry organic matter for run litter. Whatever is available to you. I like wood chips because I can get them for free.
You can set up misters if your chickens seem overheated. Deep shade on damp ground with a floor fan also works well. As does offering a shallow plastic pan with a large ice block to melt that the chickens sip from and wade in.

Thank you. This leads me to another question. No matter if I would have grass or organic matter. How often or how in general do I clean the inside of a run? With water or raking? When you say organic matter. Are you talking about straw or what other options are they? Sorry, for bugging you with all those questions.

 

[littledog]

Straw is fine if it's mixed with other materials, but I wouldn't use straw by itself unless the run is covered. I used to use it in my small run, and when it got wet it would become matted and start to rot, and smell terrible! Then I would have the stinky chore of digging it all out, putting it in the compost and replacing it with dry straw. I finally put a cover on the small run and put in wood chips - best thing I ever did. When I built my big run (not covered, except for wire to keep out flying predators) I went with a thick layer of wood chips from day one, and the surface is holding up well, staying well-drained and fresh-smelling. I do still use straw inside the coop, or to add to the wood chips along with dried leaves and small branches and twigs.

 

[aart]

Most bagged mulches nowadays are dyed

As are the piles at the landscape places.

 

[rosemarythyme]

As are the piles at the landscape places.

Really? Meh. My landscape place carries stuff that looks like it was salvaged out of someone's yard (and probably was lol).