My run (5 x 10) is a dirt/sand floor. I have noticed that some people have shavings on their floors. Should I put pine shavings on my run floor or leave it dirt? Which do the chickens prefer?
For the run I would not put down pine shavings they will get soggy and gross fast. I sometime add sand to mine to help with drainage. In the fall I rack a bunch of my leafs into the run the chickens LOVE it.
I have been using leaves. I have a tarp over my pen so it stays pretty dry. When I first put it up it had a grass floor, I planned on putting sand in after the grass was all eaten or dead. The leaves have been working out fine so I might leave it at that. I add diatomacius earth every now and then. I rack the old leaves out and put new in every now and then. They decompose rather quickly.
Is this a outside uncovered run? I wouldn't use shavings if that is the case. If it was a covered run, then they would work fine, you just have to add fresh stuff from time to time, or they begin to get dug in, and will slowly compost away. Over time they will build up a good base for a run floor. My concern with leaves is that if they are getting wet, they will eventually compost, and your run can get quite mucky, and even smelly. I have trees around my run, so the leaves fall into it. I rake them up after a few days and add them to my compost pile, before they begin to rot. The hens do seem to enjoy scratching around in them..
