Materials for coop, run, nesting boxes...

[mike48851]

I am just curious. I'm guessing a straw mixture should be used for the nesting boxes? Yay, nay? Opinion?

Pine shavings for the coop...Opinions...

And now, for the chicken run. Should I just keep it grass and let them do what they do? Should I dig up the grass and make it dirt? What are ya'lls opinions and experiences? Thank you!

 

[Ms Clucky]

I use pine shavings for coop, nests and run. Sometimes I mow up grass with a bagger mower and put it in the run. They will have little bugs to eat and they will have lots of fun. Lavender in nests and coop I heard make it smell good.

 

[Benderb15]

Hello!

I use pine shavings for the floor of my coop and my nest boxes.

I am new to the whole run thing as my girls have always just run around freely in my yard. They have been in an enclosed run for only two days now. From what i have been told, i am going to add some sandy area for dust bathing, and then for the rest just a build up over time of scraps - wood chips, leaves, grass clippings, etc. Right now they are just on bare earth.

 

[mike48851]

Hello!

I use pine shavings for the floor of my coop and my nest boxes.

I am new to the whole run thing as my girls have always just run around freely in my yard. They have been in an enclosed run for only two days now. From what i have been told, i am going to add some sandy area for dust bathing, and then for the rest just a build up over time of scraps - wood chips, leaves, grass clippings, etc. Right now they are just on bare earth.

Ok, I plan to free range mine, but while I am at work they will just be in the run/coop area.

Thank you for the input.

 

[Ms Clucky]

 

[Ghosty]

I use mostly pine flakes. I like TSC coarse flake the best. I have some straw mixed with it in the front section of my coop and it seems to help give the chips more structure. I use straw or Timothy grass in the nests.

 

[Alaskan]

I'm guessing a straw mixture should be used for the nesting boxes? Yay, nay? Opinion?

I mostly use whatever I have on hand. Dried grass clippings are very nice... but usually I use hay... because I have hay....

Pine shavings for the coop...Opinions...

I have tried hay, sand, and wood shavings for the coop.

Shavings are the hands down winner for me. They stir easily so look clean way longer and are the easiest to clean out. I get mine for free if I bag, low cost pre bagged at any local sawmill.

And now, for the chicken run. Should I just keep it grass and let them do what they do? Should I dig up the grass and make it dirt?

Since you now have a run that has grass... I would highly suggest putting down a grazing frame! This will keep 1 small patch (or, if your run is large enough, do two) with grass for them to eat.

If there is a bush in the run, put a tiny chicken wire box around it, so it doesn't die but the chickens can prune off leaves.

The rest of the run, let the girls work it down to dirt, then toss in mulch, grass clippings, leaves and such. So a deep little type run.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Nest boxes, I use pine shavings. Tried gathering some hay for them and they were eating long stalks of it, so that didn't work for me. At least when they eat pine shavings, they're small and it's just a small amount.

Coop I use wood chips. Mainly because it's free and works for me.

And now, for the chicken run. Should I just keep it grass and let them do what they do? Should I dig up the grass and make it dirt? What are ya'lls opinions and experiences? Thank you!

Good news! Chickens will tear up the grass for you and make the whole area dirt. Ok, not really good news, because plain old dirt gets muddy when wet and stinky when saturated with poop. Let them enjoy the grass for now but have a plan of what type of litter to use afterwards. The most popular choices are sand and deep litter, but what works for you will depend on your climate, your drainage situation, size of run, run covering, availability of materials, etc.

 

[aart]

This is about 'cleaning' but covers all my bedding and manure management:

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.

-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.

-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.

-Runs have semi-deep litter, never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.

-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 5 years.