Chicken run- best material for floor that's proven????

[Ajcoops]

I did everything I could to prevent pests. Metal nesting boxes, dust bath, sprayed insecticide but still got pests. Day 4 and I'm still trying to get rid of the buggers.

 

[culturalinfidel]

We have wood chips/shavings on a dirt ground with a layer of straw over the top. The straw was a recent addition and I have found that our girls love it. The layer is about 3-5" thick all the way around. Haven't had any issues with smell or mess since we started. The straw was free, so we gave it a shot.

 

[SethJ]

Ive used gravel and Hay.

Currently Hay. Have to muck it out every so often. The gravel sinks and I keep replacing it but its cleaner.

 

[Hokum Coco]

looking for suggestions that are proven to clean easy

I have gone with a wire 2" grid (wire the size of a pencil) over my coop floor. Similar to what is pictured below with 4"x4"x4" cubed blocks stationed under neath the grid on top of a tarp to form a drop pit it worked excellent all summer and I will clean the coop before winter sets in and things freeze solid. The grid even keeps you chickens feet cleaner which in turn keeps your eggs and nest boxes less soiled. I live in Canada and am subject to -40º temperatures.

Clean up is simple replace the tarp with a second one. Spread the first tarp out in the sun to bake and dry. Then flex the first tarp over the compost bin and hose off any stubborn chicken poop.

Easy Peasy Japaneasy.

 

[Chickylove12]

I plan on making a sand area in my new run. They go crazy over it. I have just a little one now. It's going to be my chicken playground with all kinds of fun stuff. I'm going to make all kinds of roosting stuff and things for them to get on in there. I know I'm sick.

I know your post is quite old...but do u still have them? Can u post some photos of play area?

 

[Mr Pink]

Leafs ...lots and lots of leafs !

 

[aart]

Glad I have cement and rubber perches so I didn't have to torch coop.

Wow pretty cool! Don't see much metal fab coops.
But...the gaps between the rubber and the roosts form a perfect places for mites to live and 'hide'.

when I found this red mite infestation in my dust bath that contains D.E. pyrethin dust, wood ash and sand I removed shavings. I'm going to trial hemp instead. Hope the chickens don't start dialling for pizza at midnight!

DE is useless against mites anyway.
Having permethrin always about will/has probably created resistance.....you'll have to find another chemical to kill the serious infestation you have there. Hemp ain't gonna cut it.

 

[DrStein]

I have access to oyster shells. If I get them crunched up really well would they work in the chicken pen?

 

[Hokum Coco]

oyster shells would they work in the chicken pen?

Try it the cost is right and give us your feed back. I have not tried it or heard of it being used therefore can off no opinion on the subject. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

 

[aart]

I have access to oyster shells. If I get them crunched up really well would they work in the chicken pen?

I might be concerned about salt if they are fresh from the sea....
...and very sharp shards/edges.
Buying oyster shells processed for chickens is pretty darn cheap, less than $10 for 50#.