is it okay for my chicken run to be on 3/4 inch landscape stone.....

[redhen]

since my coop plans have changed...and they are now going to be where my goats were....i had stone in the goat yard....for when it was rainy and muddy...i didnt want my goats to be filthy..so i put the stone in thier pen..(not in the coop...just the yard)....but..now my chickens are going to be there instead....and i was wondering if its okay to have that down for their yard....the yard will will 8x16..but it will be all stones...but.....during the nice weather...i will have them out in my yard in a little pen..that i'll move around..but thats only in nice weather. so...is it okay to have the stone down?

...Wendy

 

[mtnchicks]

I think it's fine. You'll have to provide grit, since they won't have access to soil, and there may be a bit more cleanup involved, although maybe you could just hose it off. Definitely won't have a mud problem, though!

 

[redhen]

can i buy grit at a store?..also..i read somewhere they like to take dirt baths....what do i do for that?..thanks..wendy

 

[dixygirl]

Hi Wendy,
That is a blessing because it will make it much harder for predators to dig in. You might want to top it off with an inch of gritty sand or decomposed granite and oyster shells inside so it is more fine and gritty instead of so coarse. I have that for my peafowl and it works wonderfully. You dont have to worry about clean up as much if you have a gritty floor too!
Good luck and let us know how it works out for you.

 

[redhen]

hi dixygirl....only the yard is the landscape rocks......the coop floor will be(when it gets done..

)...wood over concrete...so they wont have much dirt at all to peck at..etc..is it okay to have a chicken yard with the stones instead of dirt?....thanks..Wendy

 

[dixygirl]

The birds like taking dust baths in loose dirt. I personally do not like regular dirt because it can turn into a muddy mess.

I suggested that I would top it off with a gritty mix
That can include gritty sand, decomposed granite, pelleted limestone, oyster shell grindings or you could go with something like peat moss if you want dirt.

I would sprinkle some diatomacious earth in whatever I use. It is up to you if you want your birds to have a top layer of grit or of dirt. I would cover the rocks inside the run with something personally. I would not remove them though because they are great for drainage. I would just top dress them to make a more comfortable surface.

 

[redhen]

okay..good idea...i'll add some dirt/sand over the top for them..thanks..Wendy