Hay or straw in run or neither for winter?

[RainbowHen]

I put leaves over my sand in my run. When they break down I add some more. Wisconsin here.

 

[swampfox440]

I was going to say the same thing! I wonder if we live in the same swamp? The Great black swamp?

I am in the N.E. Ohio But I know where you are talking about . Our area use to be an old lake bed during the time of the dinosaur .

 

[Navahogirl]

in my area I gather up fallen leaves and put them in, they don't absorb water or poo, so it is dryer. They love to tear them apart looking for what is underneath so it becomes a nice mulch.

Ohhhh I have TONS of leaves here!!

 

[LateBirdFarms]

I know here in Ontario most of our municipal garbage dumps have free wood chip mulch, it works pretty amazingly when it comes to drainage and doesn't freeze slick or smell... old school farmyardish come spring.

 

[lifein1840]

I have a multipurpose sand in the run right now and it works out pretty well but I'm wondering if I should put hay or straw in the run for the winter months any ideas or suggestions?

I put all the leaves from my yard in the coop and run, next spring, they are crunched up, fertilized and ready to go to the garden!! Last year I finally have a new garden/run area that is used to grow veggies all spring summer and fall then I turn the hens in on the leaves and by spring, they have made great compost right where I need it!

 

[Minky]

I have a multipurpose sand in the run right now and it works out pretty well but I'm wondering if I should put hay or straw in the run for the winter months any ideas or suggestions?

I am trying to decide the same. I put some straw in there to give them something to do (the ones that dont free range.) Also so eventually (I add more every other day) it will retain some heat. My runs are dry and covered, and Im in southern Ontario so same temps as you I assume. Fall leaves would be good too but I feed those to my goats.

 

[LizzzyJo]

I can't say because I live in a swamp . Here where I live it's cold and wet , I have to put down # 57 gravel about 6" deep then my hay on top . That allows for drainage so the hay don't stay wet . I have snow here now .

I was going to say the same thing! I wonder if we live in the same swamp? The Great black swamp?

 

[MamaChick70]

NY here as well and we live in very wet area so free wood chips are our best friend. We tried hay originally and it did get extremely nasty and I thought "Eh just keep piling it on!" What a mess to clean in spring.

I live in the Hudson Valley in NY; when we got some snow the other day, I placed leaves in their coop. It cut down on the smell and gives them something to peck through. I should say I have them in a run only. They do not free-range since I live right on a busy road.

 

[Alaskan]

I have a multipurpose sand in the run right now and it works out pretty well but I'm wondering if I should put hay or straw in the run for the winter months any ideas or suggestions?

Where do you live abouts? Super depends on your temps.

Where I am, hay or straw in the run would mat up get nasty and stinky.

Hay is great in the coop where it is dry.

 

[Ebony Rose]

I live with very high humidity and heat. Straw molds quickly here, posing health hazards for my flock. I won't use it.