Gravel and chickens

[eggheads]

I will be converting my kids play structure into a new chicken coop. I have gravel as a base under the play structure now. Do I need to remove this before the chicks move in or is it OK? It is very small gravel about the size of a pea.

The coop will be raised a little off the ground, so the chicks will have access to the gravel.

Steve

 

[BarefootMom]

I think it will be okay. I have a pea gravel pile and my hens love to scratch in it. How old will the chicks be when you move them out there?

FWIW I have 4 day old chicks on wood pellets and they are okay.

 

[kittycooks]

Pea gravel will not hurt the chickens and is very good for drainage. It is difficult to clean the poop up though - if that is going to be part of their run you may want to put a good layer of sand on top to ease the cleanup.

 

[ralleia]

Sounds great! And the pea gravel should help prevent the run from becoming a mud pit.

 

[eggheads]

Thats great news, I was not looking forward to removing all the pea gravel.

As far as the age of the chicks, I was going to start them off in it from day 1 (or at least when the arrive).

Steve

 

[ChixMama]

We had the same situation...lots of gravel I didn't want to move. They've done just fine. You can spread some pdz if you start to have an odor problem. Have fun

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:

Um you are going to need to brood those chicks in a brooder untill they get their feathers before putting them out in a coop. Takes a few weeks. They need to be kept at about 95 degrees during the time they are getting their feathers. Nothing fancy just a nice big cardbord box with a light for heat workes great.