How Many Inches of Mulch for Run?

[ObiHenKanobi]

We just finished building a run that's 96 sq ft for our small backyard hens and a local tree company is going to deliver mulch to use as run bedding (or is called litter in the run?). How many inches deep would you have the mulch?

I'd like to only replace the mulch every few months. I add a bag EZ Coop Refresher every week so I'm hoping between that and a deep enough layer of mulch the run will stay odor free. (Very important, we live in an urban setting.)

Thank you for any advice you can offer!

 

[aart]

a local tree company is going to deliver mulch to use as run bedding (or is called litter in the run?).

Will they dump a big pile where it can sit out of the way until you need it?

How many inches deep would you have the mulch?

Just a couple inches should do the trick.
Don't go too deep in run with freshly chipped trees/branches/leaves,
it can be rather wet and cause mold blooms.

I'd like to only replace the mulch every few months.

Depending on how big your run is, you shouldn't ever have to replace it,
just add another inch or so.
Dimensions and pics of your run might help here.

I add a bag EZ Coop Refresher every week so I'm hoping between that and a deep enough layer of mulch the run will stay odor free.

The wood should render the poops odor free pretty quickly,
and no need to spend that much for zeolite.
Bigger bags available for much less money in the horse aisle.

 

[3KillerBs]

For my in-town chickens' run I used a mix of wood shavings, straw, pine straw, fall leaves, and whatever other compost browns came to hand.

I would put down 4-6 inches, depending on how fluffy the substance was, and let it be until it seemed to need refreshing. Intermittently I'd throw a few handfuls of scratch in to encourage the chickens to dig it up and stir it up. If necessary I'd use my manure fork to break up any crusted areas or loosen packed areas (a mix of materials doesn't pack as readily as a single material does (straw is the worst for packing)).

If it seemed to have broken down too much, if it got too wet due to excessive rain, or it developed the first hint of an odor I'd add another layer of bedding.

I only cleaned it out when the pile got inconveniently high or I wanted compost for my garden and never had any odor problems.

I will note, however, that I live in a warm climate where freezing never stopped the composting action of the deep litter and that my soil is sand so I never had drainage problems.

 

[blackdog043]

What @aart said in post #2

If it starts to smell or draw flies add more mulch. Clean it out if it gets to deep for you. You can use it for planters or in a garden, if you have one, add it in the fall.
No need to add EZ coop refresher in the run when you use mulch. Use a little sweet PDZ stall refresher (cheaper, same stuff)) mixed into the bedding inside the coop, if you want to.

I add yard/garden waste to my run also.

 

[RumneyRoost]

I would have them dump the mulch somewhere outside the run, then add a thin layer in your run where the sun can get to it. Just keep doing that until it's deep enough.
I wouldn't use shavings in the run, if there's a breeze they'll just blow around. And when it rains they'll hold on to the moisture instead of letting the water drain.

 

[3KillerBs]

Maybe what I'll do is put a thin layer down in the run and let the sun beat on it for a week or two before pudding any more down?

A thin layer at a time is perfect.

 

[drinkoj]

That sounds perfect!
Just the wood chips should keep any odors at bay...
...no need to add the zeolite(PDZ/Coop Fresh).

Listen to @aart don't waste the money on the PDZ for the run, because as the materials breakdown and decompose slowly there will be ZERO smell as the chickens will be turning the material all the time.
As a newbie I've done this and what I noticed is that in the beginning you will have some flies showing up because everything is new and the decomposing process has not started, but no smell, as I worried that flies meant a smell was coming but it did not. After a week or two the material started to breakdown (height of it goes down) and it is turned over by the chickens so decomposure starts. No smell and the flies disappear.

 

[blackdog043]

Just the wood chips should keep any odors at bay...
...no need to add the zeolite(PDZ/Coop Fresh).

^^^^^^^This^^^^^^
Try the wood chips without PDZ, you will see that they work. Do not use pine shavings in the run, it won't work the same way. Add more chips as they break down or if you can smell bad odors. Using chips also gives them a run that they can scratch in and dust bath.

 

[ObiHenKanobi]

Thank you everyone! Put a thin layer of the wood chips down yesterday and the hens love it. Going to follow all the advice shared here, much appreciated!

 

[aart]

the horse version of EZ Coop Refresh and put a few inches down

Down where?
It really isn't needed with the wood chips in the run.
Most of us here use PDZ on the poop boards under the roosts.