Coop run liner material

[Spruceroost]

Hey everyone. I'm trying to build a 12x8x6 coop with attached run. I have heard people say a liner is a great way to improve a coop run, but I can' find much info about this. I was thinking of something like a weed barrier to keep the pine shavings from washing away. What are your thoughts on this, is it worth it?

Also, I've read that pine shavings are good for a run. Will there be a problem with mold from the rain? Thanks everyone.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I live in very rainy Oregon, and I don't use a liner in the run as I have clay soil that the pine shavings helps amend. (I've got black gold now in the run areas).

Pine shavings are excellent in the rainy weather as long as they are turned, which the chickens do a fine job of. I use the deep litter method in the runs, putting fresh on top...actually I just pull the old shavings out of the coops in to the runs, adding a little fresh on top.

For my knee to waist high coops, with wood floors, I simply lay down cut up feed bags on the floor then the pine shavings over. It keeps the coop floors much cleaner and makes it very easy to drag the shavings out of the coop to dump in the run for the deep litter.

Every spring and fall, I scoop that black gold to gardens...actually my friends and neighbors show up with shovels and buckets and smiles.

So pine shavings have worked very well for me in runs, no need for any kind of liner on the ground. The birds keep down all weeds and the pine shavings keep down mud and smell. Just refresh periodically. (Oh, and don't use DE as that kills the microbes that makes the deep litter compost work.)

LofMc

 

[Spruceroost]

I live in very rainy Oregon, and I don't use a liner in the run as I have clay soil that the pine shavings helps amend. (I've got black gold now in the run areas).

Pine shavings are excellent in the rainy weather as long as they are turned, which the chickens do a fine job of. I use the deep litter method in the runs, putting fresh on top...actually I just pull the old shavings out of the coops in to the runs, adding a little fresh on top.

For my knee to waist high coops, with wood floors, I simply lay down cut up feed bags on the floor then the pine shavings over. It keeps the coop floors much cleaner and makes it very easy to drag the shavings out of the coop to dump in the run for the deep litter.

Every spring and fall, I scoop that black gold to gardens...actually my friends and neighbors show up with shovels and buckets and smiles.

So pine shavings have worked very well for me in runs, no need for any kind of liner on the ground. The birds keep down all weeds and the pine shavings keep down mud and smell. Just refresh periodically. (Oh, and don't use DE as that kills the microbes that makes the deep litter compost work.)

LofMc

That's brilliant advice. Thanks a bunch!