I need all the ground cover options for my run

[aart]

I like coarse wood chips as well. The hens love them. Only problem I have is they kick about 3 wheel barrows through the mesh every month. I've learned to pile it in the center and let them work it to the outside when I put it back. Doesn't take them long...

I lined my runs with 1/2" HC, 2' high.
Actually did that to keep tiny chicks from escaping, holding the wood chips was a bonus.

 

[NatJ]

I used pea gravel on the larger run (24 x 12) but I put a single quarter scoop of sand under the raised coop and dry cover. It lasted 1 year for the sand and 2 years for the gravel.

What happened to the sand and gravel after that?
Gravel doesn't rot, and I wouldn't expect it to wear out in any way, so I'm a bit puzzled that it only "lasted" 2 years.

 

[aart]

What happened to the sand and gravel after that?
Gravel doesn't rot, and I wouldn't expect it to wear out in any way, so I'm a bit puzzled that it only "lasted" 2 years.

Guessing it may have become saturated with poops and other detritus?

 

[3KillerBs]

Only problem I have is they kick about 3 wheel barrows through the mesh every month.

We're planning to put a solid skirt about a foot high at the bottom of the wire on the Chicken Palace. Not sure it it's going to be HardiePlank or metal, but the purpose will be to keep the composting litter off the support structure and inside the wire.

 

[Pioneertown mama]

Hey all! I have finished my coop, just finished my run. My 11-12 week olds have now been out in their coop for a week and are super happy! It's time to get them out into their run as well. I need to hear from all of you experienced chicken keepers what your favorite, most affordable ground cover for the run is?

I've heard:
Sand
Gravel
Wood chips
Deep litter method
Top soil
Concrete
Mixture of sand and stone

Here's my dilemma! I really like the idea of sand or a sand/stone mixture. But for the size of my run the cheapest delivery I can find will run me at least $400. I don't have that right now. I put the majority of my funds into safety for the coop and the run and it has left me a bit short. So now I'm looking into the most creative ways people have found to get cheap sand/stone for their run.

My mom suggested taking sand out of the local sand pits. I told her I don't think that's legal nevermind the fact that I'd have to take a ton of trips back and forth with my minivan just to get the sand home.

My coworker suggested topsoil. This would certainly be cheaper but wouldn't it get nasty/muddy? My run will be covered with a tarp that I can fold back on sunny days for them to sun bathe and to dry damp areas but I still worry the rain will blow in the sides and make soil a mushy stinky mess.

My friend suggested concrete. I don't know a thing about that but it seems like not only would it be expensive but that would be zero fun for my babies. Rough on their feet, no dust bathing, no digging I don't like that idea..

Gravel alone I think would be too rough.

Wood chips/ wood shavings I feel would hold on to moisture and get nasty/stinky after a bit.

So I'm still down to wanting a mixture of sand and small stone. I feel that would be easier to clean, provide decent drainage and allow for dust bathing and digging.

So again, what are creative ways you've found to aquire your sand / sand stone mixture without having to sell a kidney? What are safe types of sand? Safe types of stone?

Thank you all! I apologize for rambling and the length of this post

 

[Pioneertown mama]

Hey all! I have finished my coop, just finished my run. My 11-12 week olds have now been out in their coop for a week and are super happy! It's time to get them out into their run as well. I need to hear from all of you experienced chicken keepers what your favorite, most affordable ground cover for the run is?

I've heard:
Sand
Gravel
Wood chips
Deep litter method
Top soil
Concrete
Mixture of sand and stone

Here's my dilemma! I really like the idea of sand or a sand/stone mixture. But for the size of my run the cheapest delivery I can find will run me at least $400. I don't have that right now. I put the majority of my funds into safety for the coop and the run and it has left me a bit short. So now I'm looking into the most creative ways people have found to get cheap sand/stone for their run.

My mom suggested taking sand out of the local sand pits. I told her I don't think that's legal nevermind the fact that I'd have to take a ton of trips back and forth with my minivan just to get the sand home.

My coworker suggested topsoil. This would certainly be cheaper but wouldn't it get nasty/muddy? My run will be covered with a tarp that I can fold back on sunny days for them to sun bathe and to dry damp areas but I still worry the rain will blow in the sides and make soil a mushy stinky mess.

My friend suggested concrete. I don't know a thing about that but it seems like not only would it be expensive but that would be zero fun for my babies. Rough on their feet, no dust bathing, no digging I don't like that idea..

Gravel alone I think would be too rough.

Wood chips/ wood shavings I feel would hold on to moisture and get nasty/stinky after a bit.

So I'm still down to wanting a mixture of sand and small stone. I feel that would be easier to clean, provide decent drainage and allow for dust bathing and digging.

So again, what are creative ways you've found to aquire your sand / sand stone mixture without having to sell a kidney? What are safe types of sand? Safe types of stone?

Thank you all! I apologize for rambling and the length of this post

I use sand, then I'm able to rake all the poop up into a pile and I use a cat litter scoop and go through it and then discard it. But I only have 6 hens!

 

[McChooky]

Hey all! I have finished my coop, just finished my run. My 11-12 week olds have now been out in their coop for a week and are super happy! It's time to get them out into their run as well. I need to hear from all of you experienced chicken keepers what your favorite, most affordable ground cover for the run is?

I've heard:
Sand
Gravel
Wood chips
Deep litter method
Top soil
Concrete
Mixture of sand and stone

Here's my dilemma! I really like the idea of sand or a sand/stone mixture. But for the size of my run the cheapest delivery I can find will run me at least $400. I don't have that right now. I put the majority of my funds into safety for the coop and the run and it has left me a bit short. So now I'm looking into the most creative ways people have found to get cheap sand/stone for their run.

My mom suggested taking sand out of the local sand pits. I told her I don't think that's legal nevermind the fact that I'd have to take a ton of trips back and forth with my minivan just to get the sand home.

My coworker suggested topsoil. This would certainly be cheaper but wouldn't it get nasty/muddy? My run will be covered with a tarp that I can fold back on sunny days for them to sun bathe and to dry damp areas but I still worry the rain will blow in the sides and make soil a mushy stinky mess.

My friend suggested concrete. I don't know a thing about that but it seems like not only would it be expensive but that would be zero fun for my babies. Rough on their feet, no dust bathing, no digging I don't like that idea..

Gravel alone I think would be too rough.

Wood chips/ wood shavings I feel would hold on to moisture and get nasty/stinky after a bit.

So I'm still down to wanting a mixture of sand and small stone. I feel that would be easier to clean, provide decent drainage and allow for dust bathing and digging.

So again, what are creative ways you've found to aquire your sand / sand stone mixture without having to sell a kidney? What are safe types of sand? Safe types of stone?

Thank you all! I apologize for rambling and the length of this post

I would add as much sand as needed for sunbathing and the rest would be dried leaves (free)

 

[Bananer86]

Our chickens devoured the grass & weeds that were in their run so I’ve been going with the deep litter/self compost method. I dump the brooder shavings in (we have 10 & 11 week olds in the run & 4 & 5 week olds in the brooder) + add more shavings as needed.

In our old run I basically did the same thing but started with a thick layer of large saw dust (got free from a local cabinet shop) just make sure any saw dust/shavings are NOT cedar. That run was on dirt & clay without grass. The whole time our first chicks were in the brooder I dumped the shavings in their run so it was ready for them to start scratching when they got out there. I also added the spent coop shavings to that run.

 

[ms bernadette]

I just put in some pea gravel which I love for keeping it clean and the rain goes right through it, but my chickens are getting bumble foot? ugh

 

[3KillerBs]

I just put in some pea gravel which I love for keeping it clean and the rain goes right through it, but my chickens are getting bumble foot? ugh

Welcome to BYC.

Unfortunately, gravel is not generally recommended for exactly that reason -- and also because the poop eventually builds up down in the gravel layer to create a cement-like mass that reeks when it gets wet.

If you tend to have a lot of rain and are concerned about mud in your run you could try coarse wood chips -- the sort you get from a tree-trimming service.