Chicken run substrate

[BirdKeeper31]

I am a keeper at a small private zoo and am in charge of their chickens. Currently their run is 2/3 smooth pea gravel and 1/3 mulch which looks nice aesthetically but is a pain to clean. To clean I use a hose and spray the rocks to get out the poop and spilt food, but that is then being washed into the walkway/path of visitors which is not ideal. Any suggestions on better cleaning method or should I take all of the gravel out and replace with mulch?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Deep litter.

Gravel collects feed and droppings, as you've noticed, which you then have to combine with water and wash away. Its not very hygenic, and honestly, the potential for odor is quite high.

A mix of dried leaves of various sizes, wood shavings, etc will look natural-ish, require miniml maintenance on your part as it slowly decomposes together with the nitrogen rich chicken droppings, and it helps with odor control.

As a final bonus, the birds love to dig around in it, hunting bugs, etc so its enrichment for them.

 

[3KillerBs]

Can you get coarse wood chips? The sort that comes from a tree service?

That makes a great base, to which you can add leaves, dried grass clippings, and other such lawn waste.