Ground cover in run

[JDonn127]

Has anyone used this in their run?

 

[azygous]

That's bedding. Ground cover involved growing plants, which are next to impossible in a chicken run. Which are you interested in?

 

[JDonn127]

Sorry....bedding

 

[3KillerBs]

Any dry organic material that comes readily to hand can be used in the run.

IMO, the best thing is to have a mix of materials and textures in order to prevent packing, matting, and the creation of stinky, anaerobic pockets.

 

[KarynVA]

I have a bag of that chopped straw and I've used it occasionally inside our coop, on top of pine shavings. But honestly, I don't see a whole lot of benefit or value to it. I've been using it for about 5 months and I don't think I'll be buying it again.

In the run? I just use yard debris (dry leaves, pine straw, grass clippings).

 

[JDonn127]

Ive been using dry leaves sometimes mixed with some pine shavings....but my supply of dry leaves is running out.... trying to find an alternative

 

[deidreg]

I use mulch from my town. They deliver it for free. It's from trees they've removed, so it has different sizes and textures. Helps keep it from matting down. If your town doesn't do this, perhaps a tree removal company would give you some free woodchips.

 

[aart]

That's mighty pricey.
It would work OK if mixed with some chunky wood chips.

 

[David61]

what kind of run you got? covered by a roof or open? what size run for how many birds. I have both a dirt floor roofed and dirt floor open.
i use large pine flake in the dry roofed run and wood chips from a tree service in the open run. I add other things to the open run when i can get it but 70% are wood chips from tree service.
Here is the outside run getting new chips.
Refill on deep litter run. | BackYard Chickens - Learn How to Raise Chickens

 

[linguini]

I used the chopped straw for a short period of time. When it was fresh and dry the chooks loved it! But after a few days when it gets wet (the ground absorbs moisture), it was unbearable, I replaced it a few times, finally decided to use play sand instead. That worked out a lot better, no maintenance.