Dirt chicken run?

[BigBlueHen53]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[rosemarythyme]

My husband mentioned doing gravel.

Gravel is the least recommended "litter" because:
1) it's hard on chicken feet (it offers no cushion and they can cut their feet on rough edges)
2) unlike deep litter (which composts) or sand (where you clean regularly to remove the poop), gravel can cause odor issues from bits of poop gradually falling in between the pieces of gravel and then rotting under the layer of gravel

I should add, I mostly use wood chips inside my coop because it's free for me, and during coop cleanouts I just rake it out into the run. I have hemp specifically under the roosts because it sifts clean like sand (and I sift it daily), but composts well so can be added to the rest of the deep litter in the run during cleanouts. As I have a larger coop I only do full cleanouts once a year.

My deep litter run doesn't get cleaned out, but because I garden I do sift out compost for my own use. I removed about 3 wheelbarrows worth of compost a few weeks ago.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'm in NJ. I'm updated my location in my profile, thanks for the tip.

There's state threads, might be a good place to touch base with folks in your general region for specific advice as far as what works well in your state. NJ: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-jersey.537/

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

I never used sand due to wanting to add to the compost pile. I have used sweet pdz stall refresher (I think that's right) from tractor supply its small like sand (used for horses) and used it under the roosts bars and would just scoop it like cat litter when they were in the prefab small coop before moving to the bigger one. It helps with odor and drying out the poop. If you have grass now I would leave it and then if you want to add gravel after it gone it will be easy to add the chickens can scratch and eat the grass if you don't like it when its dirt you can add whatever to it then. That will give you more time to decided. I should also add that im very low maintenance, at the moment we are finishing the new coop so all the ladies are sleeping on a 2x4 on an old pool ladder under a canopy in the run. I'm all about easy cleaning. The one downside I can say for me is the holes they dig near the fence ( chainlink ) are crazy and I do fill them with rocks, old pavers and just move dirt around so they don't dig their way out. I added pics from when we 1st got them to now boy I miss the grass

Ha ha they really do demolish the grass, wow. I'm not concerned with needing to compost. I think sand may work for us. My remaining questions are:
1. Am I able to make this so that it only needs to be cleaned 3 times a week? I have read some people manage this with sand but they don't give details.
2. How can I go away on vacation for 4 days?

I've got the food and water somewhat automated. Their coop is in their run and the run is a decent size for 5 hens so their shelter should be good. It's the poop now.

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

Gravel is the least recommended "litter" because:
1) it's hard on chicken feet (it offers no cushion and they can cut their feet on rough edges)
2) unlike deep litter (which composts) or sand (where you clean regularly to remove the poop), gravel can cause odor issues from bits of poop gradually falling in between the pieces of gravel and then rotting under the layer of gravel

We were thinking about gravel in the run, but not in the coop. It wouldn't be good to use in the run? The grass and then eventually dirt would be better you think?

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

There's state threads, might be a good place to touch base with folks in your general region for specific advice as far as what works well in your state. NJ: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-jersey.537/

Oh great, thanks very much

 

[aart]

It wouldn't be good to use in the run?

No. Reasons were given.

 

[Audi0]

Ha ha they really do demolish the grass, wow. I'm not concerned with needing to compost. I think sand may work for us. My remaining questions are:
1. Am I able to make this so that it only needs to be cleaned 3 times a week? I have read some people manage this with sand but they don't give details.
2. How can I go away on vacation for 4 days?

I've got the food and water somewhat automated. Their coop is in their run and the run is a decent size for 5 hens so their shelter should be good. It's the poop now.

yea Im not sure about the sand but If you end up using it definitely share how it works out for you.

 

[StinkyAcres]

How would I use a drop board in my setup? Photo included

I don't think you can add one since your coop is so narrow and the entire floor is pretty much a poop board. Try the sand and if you don't like it you can switch to other beddings to see what's right for you. I agree with the others that gravel is not a good choice, in the coop or the run.

I don't think going on vacation for 3-4 days should be a problem with any of the beddings as long as your run is 100% predator proof (hardware cloth, predator apons, etc) and they have enough clean water and food.

 

[fuzzi]

Good luck decisions are the hardest part. I have changed ours several times to get something that works best for us.

One needs to be open to new suggestions that might work better than what one has already "decided", ha!

My coop build is an example of that.