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

[AndreaSctlnd]

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Gerry,

Thanks! I have an unlimited supply of shredded paper. I use it for foraging toys for my household birds. (I have an African Grey & Sun Conure) I also use it in the bottoms of their cages as it is much easier to just scoop that up and thow it away. I didn't know if this would have an adverse affect (effect) on the chickens. We have 6 Rhode Island Reds coming home this weekend we got at an auction that were abused. They have been staying with a friend of ours who has grown up around chickens. She is giving them medication and other things and wow have they about doubled in size. I just want them to have the best life possible, especially considering where they came from.

 

[DingleBay]

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I know I too am a sick pup, I am only 12 weeks into this chicken thing and I am really out of control.

 

[DingleBay]

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Yes. They swallow the crushed granite grit you buy at the feed store. They are quite capable of finding what they need from coarse sand. They have to have grit in their crop because they cannot chew. The grit makes up somewhat for that.

gerry

Wow, if hubby gets thrown out he has a nice place to stay! Does it have cable?

 

[chickenfriendly]

So I have a above ground coop, pine shavings in my nesting boxes and straw on the floor. I have noticed that the straw on the floor either gets kicked out or moved and the chicken litter still gets on the floor. The question is: if I put shavings on the floor, will they lay thier eggs on the floor instead of the nesting boxes?? I though about going to sand as well. Can some please help me out with some answers.

 

[fireguy56]

Sand....Sand......Sand Can't beat it for cost or free. It will mix in with the dirt and help with drainage as well. Good luck,
Erik

 

[gsim]

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I use grass clippings in both nest boxes and for floor litter. I use deep litter method and always have 6-8" on floor at all times. No way they will root down thru all of that very often. Sometimes in wintertime they do, but the linoleum is so dusty that any poop does not stick to it. I love grass clippings and they are free. I do add hay in wintertime right over the top of the old clippings.

Mine do occasionally lay an egg on the floor in a corner. I keep scraps of plywood in corners beneath poop boards as that seems to be a favorite egg hideout. It works as they will not lay an egg where the surface is hard. Corners beneath nest row not used nearly as much and easily visible and reachable, so I do not bother with plywood scraps there.

Gerry

 

[chickenfriendly]

Thanks a lot Chicken Obsessed. That gave me some food for thought. Inside the coop run I use grass clipping's, I ran water into the coop so they have a waterer that stay full and put misters so when it gets hot. They seem to love it. Thanks again

 

[Nicole01]

Sand is the best. We use construction sand. Very easy to clean and the birds love it.

 

[gsim]

For a flat area coarse sand , being the type used to make concrete, might be a very good choice. Never will get mucky.

I have a sloping area and I use nothing at all. Never gets mucky as it drains so well. I am going to have to address erosion with terracing in my run tho. Only 3 medium size trees in run to hold soil. So likely will stake in some pr treated 2 x 8's or RR ties. The RR ties will be a real pill to drag in and set, while the 2 x 8's would be easy to handle. RR ties will outlast the pr treated stuff for sure.

 

[perchie.girl]

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What about Concrete blocks designed for holding back soil. Those decorative kind. The ones from Home depot are eight inches high. They lock together too once you pack the dirt behind them.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053