Duck run flooring... need your thoughts!

[CherpNPeep]

I've had a totally pea gravel run for over a year now. I find that if the pea gravel is deep enough it's insanely easy to keep clean. However, prior to a coupe months ago the girls bedded inside my home at night in a stall with wood shavings. Since moving them out full time to the gravel they have started with foot problems I have now covered the bulk of the pen in industrial chef mats over the pea gravel and it's working out brilliantly! Wish I'd done it from the start! All of the poop washes down through the holes and filters through the pea gravel. To cover the bulk of an 11'x11' pen was $125 in mats....worth every penny. Good luck!

Does the gravel hurt theur feet?

 

[Saraguay]

That's exactly what I needed to know, thank you! I'd hate to buy pea gravel and have to remove it all... I'll try the mats first!

How did it work out? I had the ring mats over dirt and under straw in my last pen, but now they'll be over concrete and I would love to JUST do the mats in the run instead of bedding/litter (obviously their house will have have bedding, but downsizing from huge duck barn to a more snug situation...to manage rat issues).