Need advise/recommendations, please.

[Tookie]

Hi, and welcome to BYC! Good luck with all your plans.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. This is a great place to explore and hang out.
I think the resin shed is great to house birds 1/4 hardware cloth under it. or concrete even better.

 

[chrissynemetz]

Welcome to BYC! We're glad you joined us!

 

[007Sean]

Howdy, and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Happy to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!

Thanks for joining our community!

 

[Debbie292d]

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!!

 

[Loving my girls]

Welcome back to chickens.
Dirt...I like peat moss.
Put a deep layer of dirt over the 1/2" hardware cloth. You are going to want EVERYTHING covered with 1/2" hardware cloth to keep predators out. Only covering the bottom foot isn't going to keep predators out.

I agree with the soil option and the earlier sand recommendation, as you know they will dig.
I, personally, wouldn’t use peat moss because of the environmental factors.
If possible to make it really deep then a nice soil and sand mix would be great for them.
Of course they would probably love any organic matter. I throw in dead leaves that fall and pruned rosemary. I have also grown some mint and creeping Jenny which are safe for them.
Hugz

 

[Stephine]

Second the no on peat moss - it can harbor very dangerous toxic organisms and make you and your chicks very sick. If you put a lip on your hoop run you can use sand bedding in it, otherwise wood chips will have the best chance of staying put.

 

[DobieLover]

I rent and can’t remove the rocks and that’s the only place where I can put them so I don’t disturb his property. I am in casing the entire run. Thank you.

If you rent and can't remove the stones you want to put the run over, how will you get rid of the massive amounts of poop that will be deposited on the stones and settle into them? Stones are not a good substrate for a chicken run.

 

[Loving my girls]

Second the no on peat moss - it can harbor very dangerous toxic organisms and make you and your chicks very sick. If you put a lip on your hoop run you can use sand bedding in it, otherwise wood chips will have the best chance of staying put.

I would recommend a lip anyway to help keep out the bad guys

 

[Kiki]

I rent and can’t remove the rocks and that’s the only place where I can put them so I don’t disturb his property. I am in casing the entire run. Thank you.

Has he agreed to chickens yet? You better get it in writing so he doesn't change his mind (if he agreed) and evict you.