Floor for chicken coop run

[McChickenMc]

Is a deep layer of pine shavings on top of small landscaping stones a suitable bed for a chicken run?
Or..
Plain dirt under/over chicken wire?
Or small rocks over chicken wire?

Looking for advice for health of chicken and ease of cleaning. Thanks!

 

[Mrs. Light Sussex]

What is the point of the chicken wire? It will not protect the run from predators.

I would go with either dirt or pine shavings, definitely not small rocks. If you have a thick enough layer of soil, when it starts smelling you can overturn the soil using the double digging technique. It does requires a lot of "elbow grease".

 

[rosemarythyme]

I agree, ditch the wire - chicken wire won't stop predators from coming in and mice can breech that size of hole. It can also cause foot problems, even if covered, as the chickens will dig and scratch at bedding, and will make it harder to clean as bits of poop can get trapped under the wire strands.

As far as best choice of bedding, what is your climate like? Rocks/gravel might sound "clean" but if you live in a wetter climate you'll get bits of poop washed down between the stones that won't come out, and that can start getting stinky. Same with leaving it as bare soil. You might want to look into deep litter, using dried leaves, aged wood chips, other garden clippings, that compost down with the poop. Sand might also be an option if you're in a dry, arid environment.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I do shavings on dirt, works great. Just keep adding more shavings as it "disappears" , I like it nice & cushy/fluffy. No lumber mills here so I buy shavings, grass clippings when I mow, leaves as the neighbor's tree drop.

I wouldn't use pebbles, rocks, wire as a sub flooring, could cause injury (as mentioned) and bumble foot is a concern.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Is a deep layer of pine shavings on top of small landscaping stones a suitable bed for a chicken run?
Or..
Plain dirt under/over chicken wire?
Or small rocks over chicken wire?

Looking for advice for health of chicken and ease of cleaning. Thanks!

Deep litter is my vote been doing so since I was a kid white shavings feed store I get huge bale 7 bucksmight be less or more please add your location to your profile lots of help when we try to help

 

[McChickenMc]

Thanks all
We are in Northern California
The wire indeed is to protect against predictors...we'll use pavers instead and cover with deep line shavings. Thank you!

 

[Mrs. Light Sussex]

Good luck

 

[McChickenMc]

Whoops. Checking to see if pavers will protect against predators in the run

 

[Mrs. Light Sussex]

Whoops. Checking to see if pavers will protect against predators in the run

Many predators will dig under to get in. Your best bet is hardware cloth.

 

[townchicks]

Skip the pavers, skip the chicken wire, do pine needles, leaves, wood chips over dirt, and put a hardware cloth or woven wire skirt around the outside of the run.