How Many Inches of Mulch for Run?

[Sonya9]

Oh good to know! Gosh I am so torn. 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? My run gets a lot of afternoon sun.

The only other place I have found to get non-cedar mulch was a garden center, but they charged $90/square foot vs $15/square foot for the tree mulch from the tree service. That's a huge price difference!

The stores here sell bags of pine shavings pretty cheap. Not sure how big your run is but most people leave the plain soil along with any grass/weeds. The birds really like to have contact with the ground to dust bathe and scratch.

 

[ObiHenKanobi]

The stores here sell bags of pine shavings pretty cheap. Not sure how big your run is but most people leave the plain soil along with any grass/weeds. The birds really like to have contact with the ground to dust bathe and scratch.

I had been doing straw and leaving the back corner of the run fairly bare so they could dust bathe. The worked, except it generated more work.I had to clean out the run once every couple weeks to avoid any smell, and also the amount of straw quickly began to take over my compost bin. I suppose I could strew the used straw in the forest behind my property, but that is even more work and I'm fairly certain people would complain.

I'm trying to come up with a method that won't generate smell, will let me only clear out the run a few times a year, and will also work during our long winter when it gets to -10F on some days. I'd read that mulch is a good option since it composts in the run with the poop.

Pine shavings would be hundreds of dollars to cover my 96 sq ft run a few inches deep. The bags at our local store are pretty expensive.

 

[ObiHenKanobi]

Really? Here a bag of pine shavings is $5-$6 or so and covers 64 sq ft. I know because a bag will cover my small 8x4 coop floor twice. Buy it at a feed store or other place that sells livestock supplies, not the pet section in smaller stores or walmart.

Pine dries out faster than straw so it is less of a mold risk. Also find a local gardener, they would be happy to take bags of used straw for their gardens.

Wow! It is $25/bag at my store. Granted, I only called one store and that price tag was enough for me to start looking at alternate solutions lol.

 

[ObiHenKanobi]

Yeah, straw ain't gonna cut it...breaks down too fast.
Please post some pics of your run.

Can you answer this question?

Right, why I suggested this:

Yes, they are dumping it off to the side of my property so I can leave what I don't use there until I need it. I think I am going to try the tree mulch and just let the sun beat on a thin layer, add more as needed. I so appreciate everyone's advice, time and expertise!