ground cover in run

[Vickiinaz]

The chicken Taj Mahal is done. The run is large (40 x 35). We planted a couple of trees for shade and will have some bushes in there, but I'd like to put something down so the girls are not walking in just dust and/or mud. Would pine bark work? All suggestions welcome!

 

[Jx2inNC]

I think pine bark would work, but with the poop and all that may get everywhere over time, you might want to get some cheaper stuff like pine shavings or similar.
Are you talking nice bark, like mulch, or is it really inexpensive stuff?
I don't doubt it would work alright, if it is what I have in mind. Just may not be the most practical - but I could be wrong until I find out what it is exactly!

 

[Vickiinaz]

I was actually thinking about a combination of the two. We live in the desert (Arizona) and it will deteriorate rapidly. A lot of the property is covered with various grades of decomposed granite. That would also work.

 

[LarryPQ]

Come see us in the AZ Thread!

And where are you going to get a crudload of pine bark in AZ?

 

[Vickiinaz]

All of the nurseries carry bark.

 

[ruby]

Where I live in the SE, hay is the cheapest and most available. If the eat it it's ok. I have lots of pine trees around and let them free range in the afternoon. Pine shavings I don't think is a good thing for the birds. But I have never used them. The folks in your state will probably know what works in your climate. Have fun!

 

[jBlaze]

Last fall I raked up a lot of the needles and little comes from under one of our trees and put that in the run. They would just dig and play in those needles under the tree whenever I let them out anyways, so I put them in the run. Worked pretty well for quite awhile, till it got really nasty out.
I need to put something in there again, so good question, lol.

 

[BankerJohn]

have you considered sand? A layer 3-6" thick would more than likely solve your moisture problems, plus make clean ups a breeze, plus keep smells down, plus make food scraps easier to find and cut down on food waste.