Good fill for Chicken Run - help w/ composting and keeping dry

[notv]

We have used mulch in the past but curious if there are better solutions. Sand? Someday the run may be a place to grow, so whatever wouldn't ruin the soil (now almost 90% chicken poop anyway) but help the poop breakdown and decompose would be great. Bonus points if it will provide good conditions for hens to dust bathe in and drain well when it rains.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[Judy]

see if this helps

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-fix-a-muddy-run-chicken-coop

 

[notv]

Great link, thanks! We do our best to keep water out of the run, but the poop does add up. Sounds like I need to go with gravel/sand. My wonder is if we add lots of sand and gravel, will that kill any potential opportunity to grow grass or other plants in the area the run is in now? If there is lots of organic material & poop, won't adding sand help break up the soil more?

We are renters so the coop and run will likely leave with us. Want to do whatever we can to manage the run while we live here while not leaving a forever muddy pit that refuses new growth in our wake.