Dirt in Run?

[Intheswamp]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^This!

Depending on the size of the run dump a bag (or bags) of wood chips into the run...and all the brown material you can find such as dried leaves, drives grass clippings, garden debris, etc.,. If you don't have leaves on your property carry some garbage bags with you and raid the leaf piles in your local town that people put beside the street for disposal.

It's a "work in progress" so just keep adding brown stuff as you come upon it. Scatter some BOSS or scratch in the run all along to get the chickens to "fluff" things up all along. Every now and then you may have to use a fork to fluff it up or remove packed/matted litter. Using different things add variety for the chickens to pick through and keeps them busy (and out of trouble). Eventually you will build an ecosystem of bugs, worms, and micro-organisms that will be very healthy for your chickens. Do not use DE or any pesticides in the litter as it will kill the good bugs that you need to make this work well.

As time goes by a thickness of a foot is a good, but *any* carbon material added will help!

The grazing panels that henless mentioned work well in providing an added distraction and some nutrition to the run.

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[TerryH]

Our covered run has been just dirt up to now. 8 chickens in a 9x26 run. It's been fine. No smell but we wanted to do deep litter. I got a local tree service to give me a load of shredded trees. Just loaded it in yesterday. EDIT: PLEASE SEE THE LINK CONCERNING THE WOOD CHIPS.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1129854/dying-chickens

 

[ChickenGrass]

All my runs have dirt in them.
I just collect long grass every day and throw it into them.
I also give them spare kitchen greens and all my hens are fine
goodluck

 

[kgb6days]

Our covered run has been just dirt up to now. 8 chickens in a 9x26 run. It's been fine. No smell but we wanted to do deep litter. I got a local tree service to give me a load of shredded trees. Just loaded it in yesterday. The chickens loved it!!

Our covered run has been just dirt up to now. 8 chickens in a 9x26 run. It's been fine. No smell but we wanted to do deep litter. I got a local tree service to give me a load of shredded trees. Just loaded it in yesterday. The chickens loved it!!

Love the "fire pit" dust bath! I just might have to copy that idea
Kristy

 

[9d84runner]

We were in the same situation as you - built a covered run in a shaded grassy area. The grass lasted about a week, then just dirt. I raked it every couple of days to get the poo out, but the smell was bad. We've ended up going deep liter method and love it. No smell, no raking. I turn it over once a week with a pitch fork, watch the girls scratch and peck. It's been the right solution for us.

Kristy in NC

What are you using for the deep litter?

 

[kgb6days]

What are you using for the deep litter?

We started with wood shavings and some type of potting dirt just to lay down a base. We got a scoop of each from the gravel place, mixed it up and shoveled it in the coop. Ended up making about a 4" layer to start. Then we just toss in grass clippings, garden waste, table scraps, etc. We use pine shavings in our coop, and I clean it out about once a month and add that (along with all the poo) into the run and turn it over. I plan to add a lot of leaves this fall. it gets pretty dry in this terrible heat we've been having so I moisten it with the water hose every other day or so. IHoe was leaning toward sand in the run, but saw a video from someone on this forum (wish I could remember who so I could direct you to it) that said, "think about where you see free range chickens, they love going through the woods. Deep liter just try to replicate that forest bed". Convinced me. I wouldn't go back.

 

[lynnehd]

My run just has soil which in itself is pretty much sand. I don't have clay type soil here so it will never pack together and become a hard mass. Great as it drains very easily and even the uncovered part of the run never has puddles that last.

My 3 girls get to free range most days, but when I do lock them into the run I try to add something for them to scratch around in or else I notice an increase in noise from them. The last few times that has been a pile of moist leaves from under a big tree they love to scratch around in. Easy to just rake out of the run as I need to.

If you have a clay type soil that compacts and retains water then adding some sand to help keep it loosened and allow water to drain away can work. I suppose it just depends on your soil type and weather as to what will work for you.

Lucky! We are CLAY.

We were in the same situation as you - built a covered run in a shaded grassy area. The grass lasted about a week, then just dirt. I raked it every couple of days to get the poo out, but the smell was bad. We've ended up going deep liter method and love it. No smell, no raking. I turn it over once a week with a pitch fork, watch the girls scratch and peck. It's been the right solution for us.

Kristy in NC

Also an excellent option. I have a secondary coop (can you say spoiled chickens?) that is wood mulch, leaves, etc. This is fine in the rain and drains well, which we do get in the PNW.

 

[Dmontgomery]

It finally quit raining long enough to mow yesterday. Raked up some of the grass and threw in 2 loads for them this afternoon. They will have it all spread out by tomorrow. I love when one finds a cricket and 15 chase it down!

Will add another 2 loads later today. 80% chance of rain again tomorrow.

 

[TerryH]

Love the "fire pit" dust bath!  I just might have to copy that idea
Kristy

Thanks. We've had those tree rings laying around forever. Decided to put them to good use so I stacked them up and added dirt/sand /etc... Some days ALL of them are in there at the same time.

 

[tjmings]

I'm in a predicament with my run. It is a 9x12 covered run. Up until now it has been dirt except over winter I did DL. It is way too hot here in the summer for DL as it produces too much extra heat. I've lost several chickens lately and my vet thinks it might be due to pathogens they are picking up in the soil. Thinking about sand but I've heard mixed reviews about that too.