Dirt chicken run?

[StinkyAcres]

Is this for your coop or your run? It's great that you never have to change it. I'm doing it!

I need help with my run. Really not sure how to keep the maintenance low there.

You'll need to change out the bedding regularly in a coop with a wooden (or other non-dirt) floor. I use the deep bedding method (not to be confused with the deep litter method) in my large coop with a plywood floor and clean it out at least twice a year. This method may not work for a smaller coop or one with poor ventilation.

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

You'll need to change out the bedding regularly in a coop with a wooden (or other non-dirt) floor. I use the deep bedding method (not to be confused with the deep litter method) in my large coop with a plywood floor and clean it out at least twice a year. This method may not work for a smaller coop or one with poor ventilation.

What's the difference between deep bedding and deep litter?

 

[nuthatched]

Thank you nuthatched. I've got a good grip on everything else except for the cleaning part. So the run can be dirt and it won't cause the chickens to get sick because of the poop bacteria? Can you be more descriptive about the fall leaves? I like using what is around, great idea. Do I just throw a bunch in there and leave them there?

Mine is plain dirt plus fallen leaves as it's uncovered, I don't clean my run but mine is much larger than yours so poop doesn't build up. In the fall, I rake up the leaves and throw them in the run, chickens love digging through leaves and helps compost the poop.

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

In the run whatever bedding you put down in there doesn't need to be changed, just periodically replenished. Adding things like leaves and wood chips allows the poop to move to the bottom and decompose which keeps the chickens from standing in piles of their own poop.

Okay I understand. Thanks for clarifying

 

[aart]

Hi all, my very first post to BYC. Thanks in advance for sharing your expertise.

We're building a henhouse for 5 hens. It's 11.5'w x 9'd x 8.5'h - the coop is 11.5'w x 3'd - the integrated enclosed/covered run is 11.5'w x 6'd. See photos.
The coop flooring will likely be the deep litter. The structure will be placed on grass. The grass in the run will quickly turn into dirt once the chickens go in. Can it stay dirt or do I have to put something down? (I'm looking for the most efficient and low maintenance way to run my coop.)

How do you plan on handling the shavings under the roost?

Much can depend on......
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.
-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.
- Large flake pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.
- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.
-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.
That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 9 years.

 

[StinkyAcres]

What's the difference between deep bedding and deep litter?

Here is an article that explains the difference. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/using-deep-bedding-in-a-small-coop.76343/

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

In the run whatever bedding you put down in there doesn't need to be changed, just periodically replenished. Adding things like leaves and wood chips allows the poop to move to the bottom and decompose which keeps the chickens from standing in piles of their own poop.

I gotcha. Sounds simple. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

How do you plan on handling the shavings under the roost?

Much can depend on......
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 3435901



What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.
-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.
- Large flake pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.
- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.
-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.
That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 9 years.

This is great, thanks for laying all of this out.

I'm in New Jersey. I updated my info, thank you.

This is the info I came across in my research. Please share your thoughts.

THE COOP:

1. Removable roosting bars made of PVC lumber so they can wipe easily (we read that PVC is okay to use)
2. Deep bedding method on the coop floor: The only problem we have is that it may block the bottom 2 boxes for them to lay but we were going to close them off anyway because we read that it's better to only have about 2 boxes for 5 hens and our plans come with 4.
3. I have come across the drop board idea but I don't fully understand it. If the deep bedding method makes it so that you don't really have to change out the material at the bottom and you just keep adding to it, then it seems like the drop board would be more work because then you're cleaning that as opposed to just letting the poop fall into the whatever you're using as the base.
4. Our coop is constructed of wood but we discussed putting a thin backing on the part of the wood that is exposed in the coop of vinyl type material on the walls so that it is wipeable - Is this okay for the hens?
5. Please help with chicken safe sand vs. pine shavings vs. straw?

THE RUN:

1. As per you awesome people in this thread, I don't need to put anything down in my dirt run but maybe some leaves or straw?
2. PVC lumber steps leading into coop
3. Removable PVC roosting bars

I would prefer the easiest method with the least amount of work.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I have come across the drop board idea but I don't fully understand it. If the deep bedding method makes it so that you don't really have to change out the material at the bottom and you just keep adding to it, then it seems like the drop board would be more work because then you're cleaning that as opposed to just letting the poop fall into the whatever you're using as the base.

Under the roost is where the most poop accumulates (chickens poop all night). It is often too much for the deep bedding to handle; too much poop in one area equals too much moisture etc. That is why people place dropping boards under the roost.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Also, are you planning on doing deep litter (composting) or deep bedding (dry) in the coop?