Gravel?

[Adrienne-m]

Hey all! We’ve had some serious moisture here and the chicken run is a muddy mess. Is gravel okay to use in some spots? I put some down today in the really
Squishy spots. There is still
Plenty of gravel free mud. I started second guessing tonight wondering if gravel is bad for them?

 

[Adrienne-m]

Hey all! We’ve had some serious moisture here and the chicken run is a muddy mess. Is gravel okay to use in some spots? I put some down today in the really
Squishy spots. There is still
Plenty of gravel free mud. I started second guessing tonight wondering if gravel is bad for them?

They were enjoying pecking at the gravel.
I’m wondering if I should take it back out

 

[Weeg]

I think it will be fine. They peck at the gravel probably for grit. Little rocks and stuff to help them digest. You can leave it in. I am no expert but I see no problem with it. You can probably fill in the rest of the run to.

 

[Adrienne-m]

Thanks! I plan to fill the rest with mulch. They loved it in the summer . Lots of bugs underneath

 

[rosemarythyme]

It's not an issue that they're pecking at it. But poop washing down between gravel can make for a very stinky mess that's impossible to get rid of. So in the long run the problem can worsen.

Really a MUCH better item to use is chunky aged wood chips. I already use deep litter but my run was squishy the last few days due to some light flooding around the area. I dumped in 11 cartloads of chips in there yesterday, and between the natural drainage and the wood packing into the flooring, it's firmed up completely today, very little squishiness left.

 

[Weeg]

It's not an issue that they're pecking at it. But poop washing down between gravel can make for a very stinky mess that's impossible to get rid of. So in the long run the problem can worsen.

Really a MUCH better item to use is chunky aged wood chips. I already use deep litter but my run was squishy the last few days due to some light flooding around the area. I dumped in 11 cartloads of chips in there yesterday, and between the natural drainage and the wood packing into the flooring, it's firmed up completely today, very little squishiness left.

I agree, mulch or chips is better. I didn't think about the rain washing the poop under. Defiantly don't want that!

 

[aart]

First look at drainage issues...both coming into the run and going out of the run.

Then chunky wood chippings.
My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My run is on a slight rise so it drains reasonably well and most of it is covered but when the weather sets in wet it can get muddy. I put pea gravel down in certain spots so I can get around in there without having to deal with a lot of mud. The chickens have other dry places they can go. I need to add more pea gravel every two or three years as it does eventually disappear. You can see the pea gravel in this photo if you look closely, but it was dry when I took this shot.

It sounds like you did what I do, I'm not the least bit critical. To me it sounds extremely logical. My suggestion is to use smooth gravel like river rock or pea gravel instead of crushed gravel. Some crushed gravel isn't too bad but certain type of rock can be pretty sharp when crushed or broken. You don't want sharp edges that might scratch or cut their feet when they are scratching.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

When I first built my house and run, I had a problem with my ducks (disgusting eaters) and their access to water, which they fling everywhere (together with bits of moistened food). They can't use chicken nipples or most cups. They also shit puddles, unlike chickens. So I had a problem around the water source with muddy run on clay/sand soils which sloping the ground alone did not adequately address.

Anyways, I put a couple bags of river gravel (the softly rounded, relatively large, oval shaped stuff) under and around the water sources to keep their feet up out of the water. Worked great for maybe two months. At that point, they had flung so much food, and dropped so much shit, that the gaps between the rocks were basically cemented together, and it stank like only rotting poultry food and wet shit can do. I used a high pressure hose to wash it out/thru. Maybe six weeks later, I was doing it again. 5 weeks after that... Again. Anyhow, by late summer, I was crouched down under the hen house (its raised about 3' off the ground, with a shovel and bow rake, pulling out all the river gravel, repurposing it elsewhere, away from the birds.

Replaced it with leaf litter from the property, spent straw from the nesting boxes and hen house, some wood chips. Standing water at foot level problem is gone (good thing, in addition to ducks, I have brahma with their feet feathers. Frozen muddy feet feathers IS frostbite), the smell is gone, and the maintenance is far easier.

As a temporary solution, maybe its worth it - I can't decide that for you. Long term, I can not recommend.