hay in the run?

[jrabbit]

we have a tractor :

http://philhyde.smugmug.com/gallery/6630139_t9J2s#492105147_GpQLs
(that picture is the day we got it in Feb - it's relocated now and working out quite well)

So, our chickens free range most days - unless we're not going to be at home for several hours, and on those days, they stay inside the run. The roosting house has hay in it. Their food and water are in the run.

Should we put hay in the run or not?
They have killed all grass in it, which is fine. Most days, they get access to lots of plain dirt for rolling around in.

thanks
--janis,etc

 

[Coldspringchicken]

I do it keeps the mud down and they seem to like it. When too much builds up just put in compost or give to an avid gardener. They kill for this stuff.

 

[lavacaw]

I have been raking bags of leaves for the past year and periodically dumping a couple of them into the run. The chickens look for bugs, weed seeds, etc. and in general break them up nicely for me to add to the compost. It keeps them occupied better than the dirt floor (they killed all the grass long ago). Keeps them out of the coop so much and there is less poo to contend with. The extra in the leaves makes the compost that much better.