Floor covering for chicken run.

[aart]

My 14x14 run with 14 birds, hasn't been cleaned in over 5 years.
It backs up to a dense wooded area.
It smells the same as the dense wooded area, always

.

I imagine you have added to, but have you harvested any of the run material over the 5 years for composting/gardening?

 

[RonP]

As it decomposes the resulting humus gets kicked out of the 1/2 hardware fencing surrounding the lower 2 feet of the run.

I can always collect this black gold surrounding the run... or not.
If not, it just washes away with a good rain. It's very light and just floats away...

A gardener's dream, but alas, I have severe deer issues, rendering gardening an exercise in frustration.

 

[henless]

As it decomposes the resulting humus gets kicked out of the 1/2 hardware fencing surrounding the lower 2 feet of the run.

I can always collect this black gold surrounding the run... or not.
If not, it just washes away with a good rain. It's very light and just floats away...

A gardener's dream, but alas, I have severe deer issues, rendering gardening an exercise in frustration.

If you do decide to clean it out, you could always bag it up and sell it to local gardeners.

 

[RonP]

I would be competing with the professionals.

I wouldn't sell a dozen eggs for $1.50, but I give extras away to friends and family.

I tell my family and friends that if they want some gardeners gold, bring a shovel.

To date, no one has...

Funny....

 

[henless]

I tell my family and friends that if they want some gardeners gold, bring a shovel.

To date, no one has...

Funny....

LOL

Yep, most people want to just pick it up already bagged, or have it delivered. Hard to find someone who is willing to actually work for something.

 

[chikmagnet69]

Not sure about the rubber chips...I've used pine needles around the wooded area on my property and it seems to work nicely. Plus its free and abundant.

 

[Blooie]

Re the rubber chips. We stayed at the Ronald MacDonald House in Aurora, Colorado for 6 weeks a few years ago, first awaiting and then after the birth of my granddaughter. They were using rubber chips in the playground area. The kids mostly avoided it during the day because it was so doggone hot! I mean like walking-barefoot-on-black-asphalt-in-August hot! I can't see where that would be good for the chickens' feet either.

And I wonder sometimes if we aren't making a mistake trying to keep their walking surfaces so soft - there's no way for them to wear down their nails. I've already had to clip my girls' nails, and it was not a fun job, believe me! I know that dogs kept on soft surfaces will have nail issues, so I would think it would be the same for any critters. They sell sandpaper covered perches and cuttle-bones for caged budgies and other birds to keep beaks and nails at a comfortable length. Is there any such thing for chickens? Hmmm, maybe I should invent something......

 

[chikmagnet69]

Not say your pampering them...but I have often asked how did chickens use to live before the age of the knowledge sharing internet. I'm definitely not an expert in this field but I would expect that whatever they would walk on when free ranging would suffice to be in their coop. I just chose the pine needles because they are readily available and the chickens next door are always scratching around in them. It should also help in catching their droppings when it is time to clean the coop.

 

[Blooie]

Not say your pampering them...but I have often asked how did chickens use to live before the age of the knowledge sharing internet. I'm definitely not an expert in this field but I would expect that whatever they would walk on when free ranging would suffice to be in their coop. I just chose the pine needles because they are readily available and the chickens next door are always scratching around in them. It should also help in catching their droppings when it is time to clean the coop.I

I guess we all use whatever we have the best access to and whatever works well. I think before we started pampering them they walked on a variety of surfaces - hard packed, soft from fallen leaves or pine needles, spongy grass - it wasn't so much each individual surface but the constantly changing surfaces that kept things in check. I dunno, jest musing absently here.

 

[allycart]

Hi, yeh i get the impression no one quite likes the idea of rubber chippings but im still undecided as to what to put down in the run, im thinking the chippings will be easy to clean, they can have a good scratch around , hmmmmmmmmmm must do more research. By the way i stapled my finger nail to the wood of the run, good job thery,re long lol .