Constructing Run Floor

[NetherLeeFarm]

Thank you for telling me! I would’ve thought to still do rocks to help with the drainage. One side is going to have a retaining wall type of thing but with cinder blocks. Maybe 3 blocks high and then the other side that is up higher on the slope is going to just have one cinder block bordering. Was going to have the wood frame of the run sit on the blocks but I guess I can do a hardware cloth apron too. Thank you for your time!

If you're not able to do the apron and need the drainage, you could do a layer of gravel under a layer of hardware cloth and then top that with a lot of woodchips or whatever bedding you use. It will still break down and you can do deep litter method. You don't need to be directly on dirt to 'compost.' If you rake stuff around, just be careful you don't catch the cloth with your rake until that gets good and covered over.

 

[RefractingDuck]

Thank you! This on top of the construction gravel and hardware cloth correct?

I would put down the cheapest soil you can find and then cover it with 4 to 6 inches of wood chips. Where I live wood chips can be taken by the truckload for free at the local highway departments. If your area does curbside branch collection, oftentimes they run them through shredders and then offer them back to taxpayers for free.

If "cheap soil" means pre-mixed garden soil, avoid anything that already has chicken manure as an ingredient (soil amendment/fertilizer). This can cause disease (e.g. coccidiosis) and wipe out your flock.