Chicken run help

[SweeneyFamJamFarm]

hello again,

so hubby and I are just about finished designing our first chicken coop! We are building a 10x14’ covered run with a 4x8 coop in the run, off the ground so they have the extra space under the coop. We are stuck with what to do for the ground of the run.. we are digging up the ground to build a 4x4 base, attaching a full hardware cloth layer to the bottom, as opposed to the skirt, and are just stuck with what to put on top of the cloth... my biggest concern is ensure it doesn’t become a muddy pit in there for the ladies. I have been reading mixed messaging around putting a layer of pea gravel on top of the cloth and then adding sand on top of the gravel. Should we just put sand in? We will also add lots of leaves and grass and straw at times for them to scratch around in! Any suggestions/advice would be much appreciated!!

 

[DobieLover]

hello again,

so hubby and I are just about finished designing our first chicken coop! We are building a 10x14’ covered run with a 4x8 coop in the run, off the ground so they have the extra space under the coop. We are stuck with what to do for the ground of the run.. we are digging up the ground to build a 4x4 base, attaching a full hardware cloth layer to the bottom, as opposed to the skirt, and are just stuck with what to put on top of the cloth... my biggest concern is ensure it doesn’t become a muddy pit in there for the ladies. I have been reading mixed messaging around putting a layer of pea gravel on top of the cloth and then adding sand on top of the gravel. Should we just put sand in? We will also add lots of leaves and grass and straw at times for them to scratch around in! Any suggestions/advice would be much appreciated!!

Putting the HC on the bottom and then covering it always had the potential to cause injury to the chickens feet when they scratch. That is why aprons are recommended.
Whatever you put down in layers is going to be mixed by the chickens digging.
I use wood chips in my covered run. The layer is about 4 to 6 inches thick. I get the wood chips for free at a local Highway Department site where they shred the curbside branches left out by residents.
They drain well and compost with the poop.