Deep litter for the run?

[colebarnhart]

Quote:
I actually got them at wal-mart believe it or not, but I've seen it at Home Depot and Lowe's, it's just large tree bark wood chips. I bought it in clear plastic bags, but I'm sure you could find it anywhere and probably have places that sell it by the bull dozer scoop full if you pull up a truck or trailer and they'll load it for you.

Watch the video from the link below about tree bark wood chips and other stuff.

http://s7d5.scene7.com/s7/video/flash_video.jsp?movie=Video/Masters/CW - Maintenance_640x352_H263.flv&company=TractorSupplyCompany&config=TractorSupplyCompany/TSC_VID1&locale=en&method=prog

other videos and info you can check out

http://www.tractorsupply.com/conten.../livestock_care_raising_poultry_expert_advice

 

[greenpixies]

I'm not actually sure what type of bark that is, I think it varies regionally. But it is commonly referred to as 'bark nuggets'. It's used as a mulch and available at nearly any garden center, including big-box places like home depot's and Loews.

Lots of people on BYC use it and I haven't read about any concerns with eating. Probably too big and hard for them to really get much out of.

 

[Gullygarden]

The chips in the picture are ponderosa. They are sometimes sold at Ace as "western pine bark".

 

[PegramPoultryProprietor]

I use wheat straw, it's cheap and I can afford to put new down often. Also because it breaks down in the compost well. The chickens love it when I put new down. I build to about 4 to 6 inches till I remove and compost it. A year later and it just crumbles to nothing with the poo through a 1/2 inch screen when it's dried. Mix that about 50 50 with some peat and you will have 7' tomato plants like mine.

Seems like I spent all winter trying to dry things out; now I'm spraying the yard down to cool things off. Go figure. I do keep a light dusting of the DE down too,; really helps keep the flies down.

 

[Gullygarden]

Yup, it's the hosing that is the problem. If you let it dry the bark or sand would both work. It does depend on your climate though.

 

[ekofke201]

I have put down several inches of sand, must be at least 5 inches, in our new run. It is 12x8 for 7 chickens and 3 runner ducks. I am thinking about putting wood chips on top after reading several posts like this one. I love the idea that I would only have to rake it over daily. I am especially tempted to do this since my husband brought home 6

dump trailer loads of chipped wood today! Will wood that came through a chipper work as well as the larger chips that others have used? Is using the brand new chips a problem? I would have access to older chips that have been chipped the same way...

Thoughts?

 

[ekofke201]

I am attempting to revive this thread...

Does anyone do this? It just seems to good to be true to work for me. Thoughts on my questions above?

 

[Fancyfeetchick]

I've wondered the same question. We have a 7x4 run on our coop and have 4 birds. Poopy, pee smell is our problem too. We live in southern Georgia where there is ONLY sand. The problem is, even when the sand is dry... it still smells a little (and our run is completely open). I use pine shavings in the coop and it actually doesn't smell at all...just the outside area where it seems to stay damp a little. I clean my coop floor weekly (or at least try to) because like you their poop is HUGE! and since it's been so hot here they've been drinking more water and having the squirts! sorry gross i know! I was thinking of adding more (cleaner) sand that's been dried after i dig it up from the woods behind my house and adding some sweet PDZ (if my TSC has the powder-heard the granules dont work or last that long). I am also have an issue with FLIES! They seem to be bad after a rain and like to hang out on their feed (which is usually on the ground- messy boys and girls) and I'm hoping with the new sand and sweet PDZ the smell and the flies will dissipate!
But to answer your question, I would use the sand and only sand. It does dry well and the chickens will till it for you. I do not hose anything down in or around the coop when i clean. Right now I just use a hand rake for the smaller areas and a large rake for the run area. I use a shovel and scrape it in a pile and then shift through all the poop.

Hope that helps!
Sara

 

[MyLittleRedCoop]

I have large tree bark wood chips in mine only because the "chicken whisperer" recommend it on one of his videos and I haven't cleaned it out or added to it or anything and it's been over 6 months now and I don't notice any smell or even really notice any bird droppings. They kick them around so much while scratching that it gets covered up I guess. Look for yourself in some of the pics and tell me if you see any reason to clean or do anything different. I think I'll just buy more and put them over the top once they break down and decompose.

I absolutely *love* the look of this large bark in the run. Can you tell me - have you ever had to shovel snow off it?
I live in Mn, so I know that snow is going to happen. I'm just wondering how this stuff holds up to wintertime abuse?

 

[Ullie]

My girls are usually out for 3-4 hours a day, but when I'm not home they are in their 15 by 5 foot run. It's grass and dirt.... I'm sure it will soon be all dirt. Anyway, I've just been using DE, stall dry and filling with sand every week or so. And twice a week I hose down. But it's getting so poopy in there. And their poops are getting huge!

Wondering what people do to their dirt runs? Straw? Hay? Can you deep litter the run?

I want to find the easiest fastest method to keep clean that doesn't require daily maintenance.

Thanks so much for the advice!

I put a layer of pine bough/branches in my run.