Cleaning an enclosed dirt run?

[blackdog043]

Should I start by tossing some dried leaves and twigs in the run?

You could put some leaves and twigs in there for now, don't make it real deep or the leaves will just compact down(not good). I would get some aged tree trimming chips or undyed mulch in there asap also. This will give you a good start for semi/deep litter. Once you get the chips or mulch, you can add your yard and garden waste. Wood chips/ mulch helps water drain down through the litter. Think of a mulched flower bed with extra stuff in it.

Here's my run after adding yard and garden waste, before the chickens got to it.

They like to dust bath in it also.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'm in SoCal and I've had a dirt run for 2 years. I just don't see or smell a build up. The flock works it in pretty successfully. With my dry climate, rain and snow are never a problem.

Climate always makes such a huge difference. My first year with my chickens, I thought just dirt would be ok, and it was... until they scratched away the grass and the seasonal rains came. The dirt run that was ok dry became a sticky, smelly mud pit. When the mud is thick enough to pull your boot right off your foot, you know there's a problem.

 

[aart]

I am located in northeastern Massachusetts. I'm in a wooded area and I have plenty of access to dried leaves, etc. Should I start by tossing some dried leaves and twigs in the run?

@blackdog043 has answered your question just as I would have.

You could put some leaves and twigs in there for now, don't make it real deep or the leaves will just compact down(not good). I would get some aged tree trimming chips or undyed mulch in there asap also.

 

[IamRainey]

Climate always makes such a huge difference. My first year with my chickens, I thought just dirt would be ok, and it was... until they scratched away the grass and the seasonal rains came. The dirt run that was ok dry became a sticky, smelly mud pit. When the mud is thick enough to pull your boot right off your foot, you know there's a problem.

Yes. As responses were coming in I noted that those of us who are finding dirt workable are in hot dry climates like mine and TX.

I guess what's important is that there's another alternative for some of us.

PS I grew up in a different climate and can well remember getting my foot so stuck in mud that I walked the rest of the way home from school wearing only one shoe. And I've kept that memory for some 65 years.

 

[PirateGirl]

When the dirt in my run gets compacted by the chickens I take a pick to it and break up the surface. The chickens can then more easily continue to work the soil and break down/compost the waste. When I clean the coop I often throw the soiled bedding into the run. When I weed the garden, that goes in the run for the chickens to pick over. I have on occasion had to add new soil to the duck run. This was however more related to a drainage issue and a mud/poop pit that formed.

 

[aart]

Yes. As responses were coming in I noted that those of us who are finding dirt workable are in hot dry climates like mine and TX.

Yeppers....big difference when it's dry.

 

[chickentrunks]

Yeah I suppose I neglected to mention... Here I dont really have much in the way of dirt - there's a little but it's primarily sand! So, free sand. But sand and the pretty extreme dryness don't really support worms or anything like that.
I envy u guys that can attract the right kind of bugs with your litter! I put a big watermelon rind out and 2 days later it's blowing around like a sheet of paper haha

 

[IamRainey]

Well, aside from the dry warm climate it may help that my run is adjacent to my 20-ish year old compost piles. I'd say within 6' - 20' (given the full length of the run) so, altho we started with adobe clay soil, it's now a pretty live organic brew under there. No doubt that's coming to the assistance of the chickens' scratching in dispatching the poo.

 

[aart]

I envy u guys that can attract the right kind of bugs with your litter!

..and I envy you the ability to use misters to cool things off. Grass is Greener(figuratively)

Well, aside from the dry warm climate it may help that my run is adjacent to one of my compost piles. I'd say within 6' - 14' (given the full length of the run) so, altho we started with adobe clay soil, it's now a pretty live organic brew. No doubt that's coming to the assistance of the chickens' scratching.

The compost piles or the chicken run? Do you have to water your compost?

 

[ehoneybee]

Add stuff. Dried leaves, cut grass, weeds, garden waste, kitchen scraps. Our goal is to have it resemble a forest floor. The only time we remove, is to add the compost to garden beds.

I thought dried leaves were a no no for disease purposes?