Chicken run dirt/concrete

[angelz_love]

I just ordered my chicken coop..yey! However, i am trying to figure out where to put it. I have the space but cant figure out where to put it. Is it a big no no to have concrete as part of the run? I mean I have enough lawn but on the other side of the backyard i have more concrete than dirt...i can alwaays jack hammer through it though, but before i do that...what do you guys think about it???

 

[seedcorn]

If they haven't been raised on concrete they can develop lesions on their feet. Concrete is hard on feet.

 

[Southern28Chick]

It seems unnatural for chickens to have a concrete area. That's just me though.

 

[justusnak]

I wouldn't put them on concrete. It gets hot...and its just not natural. They need a place to scratch. Give em dirt, sand,grass. You and they will be a lot happier.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Concrete on it's own would be hard on the chickens' feet. I think you could just put a layer of something over the concrete, though. People put litter over concrete floors in coops and it works fine. People put sand or other things as a layer over dirt floored runs, so it's not a muddy mess. I think it would work fine to put the same type of materials over a concrete floored run. You'd probably just want to have something solid, like a board, along the bottom edge of your fencing, to help contain it.

 

[angelz_love]

I thought concrete seemed unatural too...how much sand do you suppose i should put over it? I mean how deep of a layer?

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I've always let my chickens free range, so their run stayed grassy, since they were hardly ever in it. I'm guessing several inches, but have no experience with using sand. I just know it's popular. You could always use the search function, looking for sand and run. I know it's been discussed here quite a bit.

 

[andy]

hi i am building a coop..an that is to be over patio slabs..i plan to build a raised house, and under neath put a large sand pit sealed from the weather ..and the rest of the floor is going to be covered in bark chippings..so i can wash it down with a hose pipe ..{i hope}..im sure if you do your best in trying to keep them happy an well.and let them out when you can...they will be fine