First big clean out. Is there an easier way in the future?

[Liz Birdlover]

Coarse pine bark mulch works too..even the fine stuff, but it does break down quickly..

Where did you get the chunky coarse pine bark mulch? I know some places sell it in bags, like Lowe's, but often their mulches have dye. Where can you get natural thick bark chunks with no dye or chemicals?

 

[3KillerBs]

The first thing would be to modify your run so that you can get into it.

I made the mistake of having a half-high run in my first iteration and have since determined that the extra lumber and hardware cloth is cheaper than the chiropractor visits.

Unless you've got an odor or mold problem you don't actually have to clean out everything, just harvest the compost/mulch you want for your landscape and bring the level down so it's not spilling through the wire.

Coarse wood chips are often considered the gold standard for controlling mud and odor. Since you're in the US northeast you can expect to have a bonanza of fall leaves soon -- they make a great addition that chickens absolutely LOVE. But they *can* pack and mat if not mixed with other materials to help them stay loose and fluffy. Many people store bags of dry leaves to use all winter.

 

[Kaesi2020]

Hard work but excited for a clean and smarter start. I'm shoveling down to the original dirt floor. It's 1.5 deep in some parts. I've already unearthed bowls, logs...a lot of it is wet towards the bottom. I'm going to start fresh with a few inches of hard wood chips.

 

[Kaesi2020]

The first thing would be to modify your run so that you can get into it.

I made the mistake of having a half-high run in my first iteration and have since determined that the extra lumber and hardware cloth is cheaper than the chiropractor visits.

Unless you've got an odor or mold problem you don't actually have to clean out everything, just harvest the compost/mulch you want for your landscape and bring the level down so it's not spilling through the wire.

Coarse wood chips are often considered the gold standard for controlling mud and odor. Since you're in the US northeast you can expect to have a bonanza of fall leaves soon -- they make a great addition that chickens absolutely LOVE. But they *can* pack and mat if not mixed with other materials to help them stay loose and fluffy. Many people store bags of dry leaves to use all winter.

Thanks! Funny- I can actually fit in the run just fine but forgot since it was so deep with shavings I could not. Now that I'm back down to the original dirt floor, I fit just fine. Just have to step into it first. I'm going to do the coarse chips this time! I don't know what I was thinking with using all pine shavings for the base. Live and learn!

 

[3KillerBs]

a lot of it is wet towards the bottom.

This is not actually bad as long as it's not anaerobic and smelly.

Composting requires moisture. Not sogginess, but a damp-sponge sort of moisture level.

 

[3KillerBs]

Funny- I can actually fit in the run just fine but forgot since it was so deep with shavings I could not. Now that I'm back down to the original dirt floor, I fit just fine.

*nods*

I keep reminding my husband that the nest and roost heights in my new coop need to account for 6-12" of bedding eventually.

 

[Katanahamon]

Where did you get the chunky coarse pine bark mulch? I know some places sell it in bags, like Lowe's, but often their mulches have dye. Where can you get natural thick bark chunks with no dye or chemicals?

Even grocery stores carry it, here, at least in spring/summer. All garden stores, big box hardware, etc..shouldn’t be hard to find..

 

[Kaesi2020]

Thabks

This is not actually bad as long as it's not anaerobic and smelly.

Composting requires moisture. Not sogginess, but a damp-sponge sort of moisture level.

*nods*

I keep reminding my husband that the nest and roost heights in my new coop need to account for 6-12" of bedding eventually.

I have many of those kinds of reminders too now! Mostly in regards to ease of care/cleaning and efficiency.

 

[3KillerBs]

Even grocery stores carry it, here, at least in spring/summer. All garden stores, big box hardware, etc..shouldn’t be hard to find..

If you have a place to store it by the truck load you can usually get wood chips from a tree trimming service for free because they have to pay to dump it.

Some landscape companies sell it in more moderate quantities and some towns have a place where you can get it for free from the site their trucks dump it in.

 

[Sportsman94]

I have not had any bumble foot issues... But I am still relatively new to chickens. Moms chickens that I built a coop/run and filled with coarse wood chips back in April have not had any bumble foot.