Help with my chicken run

[Blue Rooster]

OK, i need some advise on how to fix my chicken and duck runs.

Because i have had chickens for a while the ground is uneven and every time it rains there are always huge water holes in the run,

especially in the ducks run and it gets smelly to. I have never used any material for my chicken or duck runs, so i am new to this.

Would Pea Gravel work to fix that problem?

Is it safe to use around ducks and chickens?

and is there a specific kind of pea gravel for chickens and ducks?

 

[Free Feather]

If you put pea gravel in, put something on top of it that they would like, because chickens do not enjoy scratching in pea gravel. Like wood chips and then leaves and straw, garden scraps, and old bedding. The deep litter not only keeps it drier if you keep adding more, they LOVE to scratch in it and find good things to eat. This is especially good if they do not free range. Before you do anything, till the dirt in there if you can, even with a shovel. Flattened, hard dirt is not good for new plant growth, drainage, or scratching.

 

[henless]

Before putting down pea gravel, check out the Deep Litter Method. You can use it in your run, which is what I plan on doing. No matter what you put on top of the gravel, the chickens will dig down to it and it will become mixed in with what ever you put on top of it.

If you don't like the DLM in your run, you can always rake it out and put gravel in then.

 

[biteme2134]

I have sand in our coop and run. The birds love to dust bathe in it and it's extremely good for drainage. I'd pick sand over gravel just because as was previously said I don't think the birds would be happy with a gravel floor.