Chicken run material

[WCChicken]

I’m brand new to chickens. Haven’t raised chickens since I was a boy. I’m almost done building my coop and run, but I need some advice. My run is covered and I live in California, so not a lot of rain. I currently have 2 inches of sand in the run on top of hard clay soil. I’m debating adding some compost on top of the sand for the run. Say 3-4 inches. The compost is ground up redwood and other carbon material. It’s typically used to mix in garden beds. Would this be a good choice considering my setup?Fine/medium compost over sand? I know there are several posts on this topic, but everyone situation is a little different. Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[aart]

Depends on how you plan to manage manure.
Sand might work well in your dry climate, but it means you'll probably have to scoop poops.

I prefer wood chippings so I don't ever have to clean up poops,
they decompose with the help of the wood and other dry plant material.
My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

 

[aart]

My run is covered and I live in California, so not a lot of rain.

Gorgeous coop....more pics please.

Oh, and....Welcome to BYC! @WCChicken
Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[WCChicken]

Gorgeous coop....more pics please.

Oh, and....Welcome to BYC! @WCChicken
Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2106215

Depends on how you plan to manage manure.
Sand might work well in your dry climate, but it means you'll probably have to scoop poops.

I prefer wood chippings so I don't ever have to clean up poops,
they decompose with the help of the wood and other dry plant material.
My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

Thank you for the response. I’d prefer to let the coop material compost so I can use it in my garden. So the wood chips looks like the way to go. I’m doing a DLM in my coop, so these would work well together.
Thanks for the compliment on my coop. It’s been a lot of work, but fun. I borrowed the idea from Carolina Coops. My wife really wanted something nicer looking since it’s a focul point of the back yard. My chicks will go in next week.

 

[jreardon1918]

Thank you for the response. I’d prefer to let the coop material compost so I can use it in my garden. So the wood chips looks like the way to go. I’m doing a DLM in my coop, so these would work well together.
Thanks for the compliment on my coop. It’s been a lot of work, but fun. I borrowed the idea from Carolina Coops. My wife really wanted something nicer looking since it’s a focul point of the back yard. My chicks will go in next week.

We have a covered run. We put yard waste, non treated grass clippings annual pine shavings from the coop. And of course chicken poop. Today i removed 24 cubic feet of compost. It went in the vegetable garden. Easy run maintenance. No smell. Great veggie harvest.