Chicken run flooring

[vblrn]

New chick mom here! I am thinking of using 18x18 cement pavers for the flooring of my chicken run (dog kennel) I hope it will help with predator control as it will extend beyond the kennel walls. Is this a good idea, and if so, what would you recommend to put over the pavers? Mulch, sand, dirt, shaving?

 

[nuthatched]

If you're digging down about 8 inches to lay them, it will be fine. Not entirely necessary, a predators apron will be more useful but it will be fine. Good old dirt is best for the run.

 

[knobhillfarm]

A dirt floor is my preference for the run. Throw down some pine shavings if you like as well. The chicks are constantly scratching through the dirt and everything decomposes into compost pretty quickly. You can scoop it out and use on yard or garden when it builds up fairly easily. Agree 100% on predator apron. 18–24 inches of hardware cloth around the run is the best. Make sure it is securely fastened and corners are well protected with overlaps.

 

[3KillerBs]

Chickens really do best with access to the ground in their run.

Most people let them have the fun of destroying the grass (or whatever vegetation there is), then using some system of bedding to control the poop. My personal favorite being Deep Litter, an actively composting mix of organic material.

Protection against digging predators is best accomplished by either burying wire mesh about 12" vertically or laying a wire apron about 18-24" horizontally on top of the ground (cover it with mulch or let grass grow up through it).

Pavers aren't effective as an apron because, unlike the wire, they are visible to the predators. Because they are visible the predators just back up and go under the pavers. With the wire apron they dig right at the base of the visible wall and can't figure out why they can't get through.

 

[vblrn]

Chickens really do best with access to the ground in their run.

Most people let them have the fun of destroying the grass (or whatever vegetation there is), then using some system of bedding to control the poop. My personal favorite being Deep Litter, an actively composting mix of organic material.

Protection against digging predators is best accomplished by either burying wire mesh about 12" vertically or laying a wire apron about 18-24" horizontally on top of the ground (cover it with mulch or let grass grow up through it).

Pavers aren't effective as an apron because, unlike the wire, they are visible to the predators. Because they are visible the predators just back up and go under the pavers. With the wire apron they dig right at the base of the visible wall and can't figure out why they can't get through.

So should I do the hardware cloth too?

 

[vblrn]

So should I do the hardware cloth too?

Could I then lay the pavers on top of the wire?

 

[knobhillfarm]

If you want the pavers inside the run, I’d lay those down several inches deep with plenty of soil over them. The hardware cloth would go outside the run 18-24 inches laid flat on the ground all around the run. Laying pavers on top of that would make the hardware cloth less effective. If you want pavers outside the run, you could dig down at least a foot deep and put the hardware cloth in vertically. Then you could put pavers as walkway or decoration outside that barrier. It won’t serve much purpose as far as security, but you may have other reasons to want it there.

 

[aart]

Agrees an apron will be better, but inside the run I had to use logs, boards, 8x16 pavers to keep the chickens from digging out under the run walls.
What predators are you protecting against @vblrn ?

Here's a couple more examples of aprons:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wire-around-coop.1110498/#post-17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

 

[3KillerBs]

Could I then lay the pavers on top of the wire?

That makes the apron less effective because the digging predators back up and dig at the edge of the pavers -- going under the wire.

The thing with the wire apron is to trick them into thinking that the ground is too hard to dig so that they give up.

inside the run I had to use logs, boards, 8x16 pavers to keep the chickens from digging out under the run walls.

I have a few places like that too. Chickens are amazing earth movers.

 

[Brooks_]

Could I then lay the pavers on top of the wire?

I very much agree with others that this would defeat the purpose, but you can use a few to hold the wire in place. They do make pin/staple things to do that but I used the pavers I had on hand.