So I live in Vancouver. I don't have my coop built yet, I'm in the planning stages.
I plan to build my coop on a raised bed so that I can move it around after a year or two to fertilize all the beds. I understand that chickens will remove any sense of green life within minutes of being set free on the run. I also know they will trample it. I can build it with plenty of drainage, no problem since it's raised. I know they need some gravel in their run to keep up their gizzards. I was thinking of putting the gravel under the coop. Can I hvae just dirt everywhere else, or will it be a mud pit even with good drainage? Will it foster disease on their feet? People talk about woodchips, pavers etc but I want the manure to fertizile the soild so I can either use the bed later or dig it out to put on the compost and get ready for another bed...
thoughts?
thanks!
I plan to build my coop on a raised bed so that I can move it around after a year or two to fertilize all the beds. I understand that chickens will remove any sense of green life within minutes of being set free on the run. I also know they will trample it. I can build it with plenty of drainage, no problem since it's raised. I know they need some gravel in their run to keep up their gizzards. I was thinking of putting the gravel under the coop. Can I hvae just dirt everywhere else, or will it be a mud pit even with good drainage? Will it foster disease on their feet? People talk about woodchips, pavers etc but I want the manure to fertizile the soild so I can either use the bed later or dig it out to put on the compost and get ready for another bed...
thoughts?
thanks!