Need help deciding what material to use for run floor - picture included!

[loohoo]

Our run is 8x10 and built off the ground because our yard has standing water certain rainy times of the year and didn't want to mess with the mud and grossness that would happen with that.
Our coop will be inside the run as well, however will be off the ground completely so the chickens will still have all the floor space.
We will only have, at most, 5 hens. (Zoning ordinances)
I am torn on what material to put down for the floor. I was leaning heavily towards sand, but I'm not 100% sold.
My main concern is smell. Our neighbors are fairly close and I want to avoid any smells drifting into their yards. As far as I know, we're the only ones in the neighborhood to have backyard chickens so I'm really feeling the pressure to get it right the first time!

 

[aart]

With a floor it's more like a coop than a run.
Wonders how much rain/snow might come thru the mesh sides of this area.

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[loohoo]

With a floor it's more like a coop than a run.
Wonders how much rain/snow might come thru the mesh sides of this area.

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2132859

Thanks! I added my location - southern Ohio! The last few winters have been chilly with not a ton of snowfall, spring and fall tend to be wet, and summer is usually hot, humid, but not a lot of rainfall.
We just put the hardware cloth up today but we've observed when it rains and there's a bit of wind, about a foot - give or take a little - around the perimeter gets a bit wet. Not puddling water wet, but the floor was wet. The middle stays completely dry!

 

[loohoo]

I'm leaning away from the sand, and more towards doing a deep litter type system...we have leftover mulch from doing the flowerbeds (no dye...we have cypress and pine bark), thought of putting that in to start. Is that a good idea? Will this type of material dry out better than sand where the rain blows in the sides? Wet chicken poop smells a billion times worse than dry. Lol

 

[2Old2Crow]

I use sand. We have low humidity out west, but our coop/run never stinks. DG is the base and sand on top.

 

[loohoo]

I use sand. We have low humidity out west, but our coop/run never stinks. DG is the base and sand on top.

Thanks! What is DG?

 

[2Old2Crow]

Decomposed granite. We don’t buy it cause that is our ground. But it’s cheap if you have to buy it.

 

[loohoo]

Decomposed granite. We don’t buy it cause that is our ground. But it’s cheap if you have to buy it.

Awesome, thanks!!

 

[Gallinarium]

Just gotta say, sand works great, and doesn't smell at all if you go over it with a rake daily to remove the droppings. This also helps keep their feet clean, and as long as it's shaded, is nice and cool in the summer. Deep litter also works, but I'm leaning toward sand.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Deep litter is great in a wet environment, however since this doesn't have the usual dirt floor, I don't know how well it'd work. You wouldn't get the same effect as if it were on the ground, interacting with the soil, moisture, microbes, etc.

Sand + wet isn't ideal either, though I guess if it can dry out quickly enough it might work?

Don't see too many elevated runs, that's why this is a bit tricky.