Dirt chicken run?

[Shadrach]

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.)

Not only can it be dirt; it should be dirt. For deep litter to work properly the bugs in the dirt should be able to get at the bedding and poop.

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

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.

Got it, makes sense.

 

[rosemarythyme]

1. Removable roosting bars made of PVC lumber so they can wipe easily (we read that PVC is okay to use)

Generally PVC is not recommended for chickens, it's too slippery. Are you planning to sand it all down to a rough texture for grip?

1. 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?

Should be ok. I'd advise considering something like this for the floor instead, as moisture (which is more likely in the litter) + exposed wood is not a good combo.

Or you could use porch/deck paint, or Black Jack 57.

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?

IMO "plain dirt" only works in a few set ups it very much depends on your specific climate, soil, # of birds vs space, type of set up, etc. In my set up and environment (uncovered run, moderate temps, lots of rain) a dirt run = a mud pit, there's no way around it. So true deep litter with a base of aged, chunky wood chips (NOT shavings) and additional organic matter is optimal for my run. If I used just leaves or straw, it would make for slimy mud, as I need the additional drainage the wood chips provide.

Maybe you won't have that issue with your set up, i.e. if you have excellent drainage and low rain. If that doesn't describe the location of the coop and run, then you will likely need some form of litter other than just the existing dirt. Other keepers in your general area would be most helpful in steering you to what forms of litter work best for you.

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

Generally PVC is not recommended for chickens, it's too slippery. Are you planning to sand it all down to a rough texture for grip?

Ah, I didn't think about this. I can't sand it because that would defeat the purpose of it being smooth and wipe-able. So back to plain old wood. Thanks for the info.

Should be ok. I'd advise considering something like this for the floor instead, as moisture (which is more likely in the litter) + exposed wood is not a good combo.

Our coop floor will be linoleum. I forgot to mention that.

Or you could use porch/deck paint, or Black Jack 57.

IMO "plain dirt" only works in a few set ups it very much depends on your specific climate, soil, # of birds vs space, type of set up, etc. In my set up and environment (uncovered run, moderate temps, lots of rain) a dirt run = a mud pit, there's no way around it. So true deep litter with a base of aged, chunky wood chips (NOT shavings) and additional organic matter is optimal for my run. If I used just leaves or straw, it would make for slimy mud, as I need the additional drainage the wood chips provide.

Maybe you won't have that issue with your set up, i.e. if you have excellent drainage and low rain. If that doesn't describe the location of the coop and run, then you will likely need some form of litter other than just the existing dirt. Other keepers in your general area would be most helpful in steering you to what forms of litter work best for you.

I live in NJ. The run 11.5'w x 6'd. It is covered with a slight over hang. My husband mentioned doing gravel. What do you think about that?

Also, we're thinking about switching to course sand in the coop. What do you think about that?

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

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

This has been the hardest decision for me. At first I was set on the deep litter, then changed to deep bedding and now I think course sand would be best.

I like that the sand doesn't really need to be changed out. I don't mind scooping it, I already have 2 cats. Some people say it needs to be cleaned every day and some say 2 or 3 times a week. Is there a way to go on vacation for 3 or 4 days? I have the food, water and shelter organized. It's the darn poop that is perplexing me.

We're getting 4 or 5 hens in a 11.5'w x 3'd coop & 11.5'w x 6'd integrated run. We're in NJ.

 

[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.

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

Now I've changed my mind to using course sand for the coop and my husband wants to use gravel for the run. This has been the hardest part to figure out. I've researched and researched, and found the right fit for us for the coop design, food, and water but the bedding and cleaning is not working for me yet.

I'm sure things will change once I get this all going and I'll have to adjust, but I'm just not comfortable with the poop management situation yet.

 

[Audi0]

I love our dirt in the run, Im in central Florida so its hot, humid and rains a lot in the summer totally different environment. I add leaves and just dump in the trash can full whenever it gets to wet, dry or just for fun they love spreading it around and scratching thru it. Just don't forget about the dust bath area to add if you do all sand/gravel. I never clean up poop in the run. If things get too wet I will just rake everything back up into a pile in the middle and they will turn it to air or just throw around some scratch does the job too. I have 5 full grown hens and 3 pullets the run is 10ft by 40ft just for comparison. Good luck decisions are the hardest part. I have changed ours several times to get something that works best for us.

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

I love our dirt in the run, Im in central Florida so its hot, humid and rains a lot in the summer totally different environment. I add leaves and just dump in the trash can full whenever it gets to wet, dry or just for fun they love spreading it around and scratching thru it. Just don't forget about the dust bath area to add if you do all sand/gravel. I never clean up poop in the run. If things get too wet I will just rake everything back up into a pile in the middle and they will turn it to air or just throw around some scratch does the job too. I have 5 full grown hens and 3 pullets the run is 10ft by 40ft just for comparison. Good luck decisions are the hardest part. I have changed ours several times to get something that works best for us.

Thanks so much for this thoughtful response. My husband wants to use gravel in the run and we think we're going to do sand in the coop. Do you use it on your coop also? I'm so nervous. I've got a general plan for everything else but I'm having such a hard time with the coop material. I honestly don't want to have to clean it every single day. Sand just seems so much more sanitary and cleaner.

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

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.

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

 

[Audi0]

Thanks so much for this thoughtful response. My husband wants to use gravel in the run and we think we're going to do sand in the coop. Do you use it on your coop also? I'm so nervous. I've got a general plan for everything else but I'm having such a hard time with the coop material. I honestly don't want to have to clean it every single day. Sand just seems so much more sanitary and cleaner.

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