I need all the ground cover options for my run

[Chicnbones]

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 needed more sand for my riding arena so, I scooped up a few buckets and put it in my new chicken run. I took a rake and covered it with hardware cloth to clean the sand. It’s like a big litter scoop. Lol. The chickens love the sand! If you use sand, don’t use silica sand use river sand.

 

[SaraRH]

I suggest calling a local arborist and asking them to drop a pile of wood chips in your yard the next time they take down a disease free tree in your area. They are usually happy to do it, as they have to pay to dispose of the chipped wood in a landfill. I’ve done this many times.

 

[Heidiypi1]

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

The only sand you should be using is river sand or builders sand the stuff with the big and little bits in it, if your run is prone to get wet only use sand, for the absolutely dry areas use pine shavings especially in the coop, they stop mites and are the healthiest next to sand which is the best. Just don’t use hay, look up the Chicken Chicks website it has all the best studies ever done for chickens you’ll learn a lot there!

 

[Mvan42]

Is there any local saw mills near you. I have a neighbor who makes fire wood to sale. He give me sawdust whenever I need it. And it's Free. I just have to haul. It's he is only a mile away.

 

[NatJ]

look up the Chicken Chicks website it has all the best studies ever done for chickens you’ll learn a lot there!

The Chicken Chick website has quite a few articles, with nice pictures, but I would not trust the information without checking other sources. Some of it is right, but some is wrong, and unless you already know the material it can be hard to tell which is which. (Some of the wrong parts are from the experts that get interviewed, while some of the wrong parts are from the author herself, so that's not consistent either.)

 

[aart]

The Chicken Chick website has quite a few articles, with nice pictures, but I would not trust the information without checking other sources. Some of it is right, but some is wrong, and unless you already know the material it can be hard to tell which is which. (Some of the wrong parts are from the experts that get interviewed, while some of the wrong parts are from the author herself, so that's not consistent either.)

Ditto Dat!

use pine shavings especially in the coop, they stop mites

This is not accurate.

 

[Double Yolked]

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.

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.

I would be cautious about larger wood chips. They can and do carry termites and carpenter ants. Both of which can do terrible damage to your structures.

Maybe check the cost of clean pea gravel? Around where I live it's very, very cheap and I ordered in a load of it for about $80. The smallest 'peas' were just the right size for a bit of extra grit (the hens loved it) and it kept pretty clean by comparison to plain dirt. Nothing you put in will last more than a year or two. Keep that in mind NOTHING lasts that long with the feathered bulldozers. So resign yourself to adding the cost of replacement into your budget.
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. The hens were happy and healthy and my budget was as well.
You might even look at the smallest river gravel instead of crushed gravel as a base and it should be quite clean or easily washed after receiving.

 

[Hjgh91]

I suggest calling a local arborist and asking them to drop a pile of wood chips in your yard the next time they take down a disease free tree in your area. They are usually happy to do it, as they have to pay to dispose of the chipped wood in a landfill. I’ve done this many times.

Yes, also if you have a yard waste site near you, sometimes they have piles of free wood chips you can help yourself to. My local one usually does.

 

[ZedikerStation]

Add a foot of clean fill dirt....then add run bedding.

I like coarse wood chippings in the run.

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...

 

[ZedikerStation]

Another option not mentioned is dried ornamental grass. I have lots of this growing. Every winter it dies. In the spring I cut it down and pile it up in there. It is hilarious watching them climb the pile. Like everything else, it doesn't last forever. It is excellent at keeping them on top of the mud. Picture of it growing and one of what is left in the run. I have a large pile of this that can be added whenever. It does not break down with rain. It is very "woody".