Chicken run floor...??

[Joyfillednomads]

Best chicken run floor...???
Trying to convince hubby that sand and rocks would drain well.
He's over the "dirt" turned into ""mudd"

 

[RojoMarz]

We have "ground", did nothing to make it different. We do have a covered run though. I've seen that sand does not work well in cold climates (we're in Colorado).

 

[aart]

It might, but could also become saturated with poops and reek.
Do you have a drainage problem in your run?
Puddles from rain or roof/ground runoff?

Knowing where you are located in the USA might help here.
Pics of run and area surrounding it would really help.

Coarse wood chippings work best as run bedding, IMO.

 

[Joyfillednomads]

We have "ground", did nothing to make it different. We do have a covered run though. I've seen that sand does not work well in cold climates (we're in Colorado).

Yeah that's good to remember

 

[neo71665]

Sand doesn't work around here, it just clumps up and stinks. Rocks the poop gets down in and stinks.

I use wood chips.

 

[Joyfillednomads]

Sand doesn't work around here, it just clumps up and stinks. Rocks the poop gets down in and stinks.

I use wood chips.

Do you have a wood chipper or do you buy mulch? Ty

 

[neo71665]

Do you have a wood chipper or do you buy mulch? Ty

I started off buying it but found one for sale with a blown up engine for $25. Replaced the engine ($100) I now have my own chipper. I burn wood in my shop so I get unlimited limbs from trees I cut.

 

[Joyfillednomads]

I started off buying it but found one for sale with a blown up engine for $25. Replaced the engine ($100) I now have my own chipper. I burn wood in my shop so I get unlimited limbs from trees I cut.

Wow that's great

 

[3KillerBs]

Sand only works well when kept absolutely dry and requires frequent, even daily scooping. Gravel and rocks are hard on the chickens' feet and can contribute to bumblefoot.

The best run litter is whatever dry organic material comes readily to hand at a good price.

Coarse wood chips -- the kind you get from a tree trimming service -- are often considered the gold standard, especially in a wet climate, but different people use different things. Straw, pine shavings, fall leaves, dry grass clippings and other such lawn debris .... My favorite is pine straw, because it's free for the raking on my property.

 

[Susan-B]

About the wood chips......can this be freshly chipped trees (like right from a tree service or chipdrop?)