Chicken run material?

[dizzle's chicks]

I am about to start building my run (8x6) but i was wondering what I should use for the run floor? I am going to wire the bottom so animals can't go under. I heard of adding sand or dirt. I was thinking of adding dirt (cheap) with some straw. What are others using and does it matter between sand or dirt. thanks!

 

[EGGRI-LA]

You will need to go deep, about a foot or more. Chickens take"dirt baths" and mine dig 6-8" holes
Dirt is fine if you have a cover or good drainage. You don't want a mud pond.

 

[Nicole01]

Sand is much easier to clean then dirt. I personally like the sand. We didn't add anything to the run. It's half sand and half grass. The grass I need to wash out every few days. The sand, the poop gets buried from them scratching. I've tried raking it up, but its buried down deep to where I can't get at it, which is fine with me. The grass will eventually turn into dirt and then back to sand. It's construction sand that was brought in to build the house.