Building a chicken run

[Primicum Bavaricum]

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.

Thank aart, this really helps. I'll exactly where to get this stuff.

 

[Primicum Bavaricum]

Adding sod will be a waste of money - the chickens will tear it up pretty quickly. I wouldn't personally add misters, because moist chicken poop stinks more. The shade will be enough.

I built a run extension this year and it started out as grass....then was bare dirt after a few weeks of chicken activity. Now I toss in wood chips, leaves, old straw bales - pretty much anything organic that's going to give the chickens something to pick through all day looking for goodies. When I see it's starting to break down, add more material and scoop out some of the decomposed stuff to add to the compost pile

The chickens will likely just dirt bath wherever on bare ground. If you want a dedicated sand area, I'd say contain it somehow or it will get spread out

Thank you for your great response. I guess I will dedicate a corner with some border with some sand, high enough so they won't be able to spill it out. But the rest of the run I will do as you and the rest of you wonderful fold suggested.

 

[Primicum Bavaricum]

Don't bother with sod 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 so much. I will certainly keep all this in mind.

 

[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.

 

[Primicum Bavaricum]

Thank you so much for your answer. Now, regarding woodchips. If I buy the ones, let's say at Home Depot. Do I have to be afraid there might be some chemicals in them added which might hurt the chicken? Or is this something not to worry about. So far with all the suggestions, I think I will use wood chips.

 

[aart]

Thank you so much for your answer. Now, regarding woodchips. If I buy the ones, let's say at Home Depot. Do I have to be afraid there might be some chemicals in them added which might hurt the chicken? Or is this something not to worry about. So far with all the suggestions, I think I will use wood chips.

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

 

[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.

 

[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).

 

[aart]

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

I suppose places can be different, but the two landscape places I checked,
the 'mulch' was the same stuff you find bagged in the stores....most dyed and all too small.