coop run flooring/bedding suggestions

[J garden chicks]

I have a 4.5 x 14 foot run. I just laid hardwire cloth over compact dirt, connected to wood base on the run. I am thinking of laying 5-6 inches+ total
2 inches of gravel
2 inches of dirt compacted over that
then?
Straw? sand? wood shaving? Hemp bedding?
Any thoughts from the BYC

 

[kelp2244]

Whats your climate? I live in the northeast and do layers of pine shavings and straw all winter.

 

[gtaus]

I live in northern Minnesota. I dumped all my grass clippings in the run last summer, and then covered that with about a foot of leaves in the fall. Now there is about 2 feet of snow covering everything and the chickens won't leave their coop.

Anyway, I consider my chicken run as a pre-composting area where I let the chickens run around and tear up the natural vegetation I have to throw into their chicken run. For me, the best chicken run bedding is what you can get for free, bedding that will naturally compost for use in the garden, and keeps everything looking and smelling good.

 

[DobieLover]

I have a 4.5 x 14 foot run. I just laid hardwire cloth over compact dirt, connected to wood base on the run. I am thinking of laying 5-6 inches+ total
2 inches of gravel
2 inches of dirt compacted over that
then?
Straw? sand? wood shaving? Hemp bedding?
Any thoughts from the BYC

Chickens dig. It would be a better strategy to put a predator apron around the perimeter of the run vs on the floor of the run.
Whatever you put in the run for litter will be extensively scratched through. Layering gravel then dirt then soil... it's all going to be mixed up by the chickens.
I recommend removing the HC on the floor of the run and making it into an apron then putting in a thick layer (4-6") of wood chips as they drain well and make a good dust bath medium in runs that stay dry with covered roofs.

 

[J garden chicks]

Whats your climate? I live in the northeast and do layers of pine shavings and straw all winter.

Northern California so not too extreme

 

[J garden chicks]

Chickens dig. It would be a better strategy to put a predator apron around the perimeter of the run vs on the floor of the run.
Whatever you put in the run for litter will be extensively scratched through. Layering gravel then dirt then soil... it's all going to be mixed up by the chickens.
I recommend removing the HC on the floor of the run and making it into an apron then putting it a thick layer (4-6") of wood chips as they drain well and make a good dust bath medium in runs that stay dry with covered roofs.

Ugh - thank you so much. The wire in the floor was existing form a garden bed and the area around is established landscape so I will fill deeply with dirt then put chips on top. Thanks!

 

[J garden chicks]

I live in northern Minnesota. I dumped all my grass clippings in the run last summer, and then covered that with about a foot of leaves in the fall. Now there is about 2 feet of snow covering everything and the chickens won't leave their coop.

Anyway, I consider my chicken run as a pre-composting area where I let the chickens run around and tear up the natural vegetation I have to throw into their chicken run. For me, the best chicken run bedding is what you can get for free, bedding that will naturally compost for use in the garden, and keeps everything looking and smelling good.

thanks! I will refill with the dirt removed during coop construction, then add "natural matter" over that

 

[Ridgerunner]

You might read post #18 in this thread, it will save me a lot of typing.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-get-rid-of-mud-in-the-out-door-run.1344863/page-2
Water is your enemy. What happens to that area when it rains? Does it drain really well and stay pretty dry? Does water drain to it and stand so it stays wet? We all have different conditions that require different solutions.

 

[aart]

You might read post #18 in this thread, it will save me a lot of typing.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-get-rid-of-mud-in-the-out-door-run.1344863/page-2

If you right click on the post number, you can link directly to post:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...mud-in-the-out-door-run.1344863/post-22095687

 

[J garden chicks]

You might read post #18 in this thread, it will save me a lot of typing.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-get-rid-of-mud-in-the-out-door-run.1344863/page-2
Water is your enemy. What happens to that area when it rains? Does it drain really well and stay pretty dry? Does water drain to it and stand so it stays wet? We all have different conditions that require different solutions.

thank you!
It is a roofed run... if the rain gets really sideways it may catch some real moisture, I could hang a temp sidewall if it becomes a problem