Need help with run floor/bed

[Gypsyhen]

I am a newbie chicken keeper. Right now I have 10 birds, but will end up with 7 or 8. I think I have the coop bedding and cleaning part handled to this point. I use a sprinkling of DE in corners, on floor and in nesting boxes before I lay down a layer of pine shavings and then bedding pellets with Zeolite. I do mini poop scooping with a dog clean up shovel every few days or so. Every 2 weeks I shovel everything out and start over. So far the coop has not had an odor, even in 100 degree heat. There are 2 windows with cross ventilation and vents along the roof area. Nesting box area stays cozy though.

The place where I really struggle is the run. It is 18' x 7' and has a base of river silt/dirt. We had several weeks of high temps for our area and I added 2 misters to the run. The chickens loved it and took regular showers. I was concerned about having nothing but a big, sloppy mud run, so I added a layer of fir nuggets. It's worked ok so far. They don't seem to mind it and have no problem scratching away spots to take dust baths on the dryer end.

Concerns are: The chickens are not free range, so I have to add the greens that they love so much. Hoping to put in some grass by using a screen method to start it, but they will go through that in no time flat. Is there anything I can plant to give them more to forage on? I don't compost, so should I buy some and add it? I've been reading on here about keeping a balance of nitrogen and carbon, but just don't know where to start. I'm also concerned about not having an excess of mold and mildew and end up with sick birds. We will be covering part of the run in the rainy months. A lot of people use sand, but there is already a lot of sand in the river silt, but it is very fine. How do I keep the run somewhat fresh and not a mucky mess? Right now it is ok as the weather has been hot and dry. Do I need to turn the run bedding over from time to time?

HELP PLEASE!!!! Anything is appreciated!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Mine are not allowed to free range any more due to hawks in the area. I do turn my run soil over twice a month. I also add pete moss for them to dust bathe in as well as an interesting distraction for them.
I give them weeds I pull as well as kitchen scraps that are free of salt and no fat. I do let them have meat scraps BUT these are ones I have made sure there is no fat on as well as salt free.
I hang an apple in the run using a screw eye and some string. They love that as well as cabbage and corn on the cob. I do try to limit the treats so the cabbage is not done but once every couple months since it is a large item.

I have had my chickens in this set up for 5 years now without a stinky run even though it gets wet.
I did have some odor this spring when I tossed 3 bales of straw in to try and give them someplace dry to stand. I have since turned the dirt several times and once it dried out the smell went away. You would have to actually be in the run to smell it on its worst day even. Right now if I went out and started turning the dirt you would not find much of the straw left. I also gave them a lot of sod we were removing to make a flower bed so that may be where the smell I had was coming from.

It is difficult if they are not let out to get them the things they would otherwise be finding on their own. Not impossible but takes some thinking.

 

[PapaChaz]

pull weeds from your flower beds? throw em in.... cut grass and have clippings you can rake? throw em in......you don't compost? put an old bowl or pot on the counter somewhere, and throw any vegetable scraps (no raw potato peels), egg shells, etc etc in, and when it's full, go throw it in the run. This fall when you rake leaves? throw em in.

I cut grass today and raked a dump cart of clippings up and put in. Last week, I added a bag of shavings, week before that I put all the weeds I'd pulled from the garden. I take them things like watermelon and cantelope rind (left in the fridge overnight for a nice cold treat on a hot day) all vegetable table scraps, on a regular basis. Just throw it in and let them do the work by scratching and digging around. I'm not getting in there and turning it over, I don't have to.....and I don't pick out whatever they don't eat, corn cobs, melon rind, etc all stays.......
Got a tree trimming service around the area? contact them and let them know you'll take a load of chips next time they need a place to dump some, and throw some in occasionally.

Walking in my run is like walking on a big soft deep padded carpet, and there's no smell at all, no problems with flies and the chickens have a great soft 'floor' to dig in all the time. There is a thread on 'deep litter method' that is a great resource for keeping the
run floor in top shape with very little work/effort


it started out just the grassy spot. The first 'layer' I put in was wood chips


a fresh pile of wood chips added.


thought I had a pic of grass clippings and such on here, but obviously I didn't take or save it. But the thing is, there is very little work involved in doing the deep litter method, it's mostly just the gathering and putting it in there. They'll do the digging and turning, it's what they do!

 

[Nupe]

There is pretty much no plant that you can grow in a chicken run. Your chickens will destroy it all and laugh at you for trying.

My county regularly sends a crew around to pick up downed trees/limbs and trim overhang. At the trash/recycle center they grind them into mulch to give away. I just remedied my stinky run from the last monsoon with a free truckload. Its a little coarse but I can't complain. It might be worth checking to see if your county offers a similar service.

 

[PapaChaz]

There is pretty much no plant that you can grow in a chicken run. Your chickens will destroy it all and laugh at you for trying.

My county regularly sends a crew around to pick up downed trees/limbs and trim overhang. At the trash/recycle center they grind them into mulch to give away. I just remedied my stinky run from the last monsoon with a free truckload. Its a little coarse but I can't complain. It might be worth checking to see if your county offers a similar service.

great point, our county does the same thing. We also have a tree service that takes all their chips back to their lot and anyone who wants em come get em. if you get there early enough before they head out for the day, they'll load you up with the loader. Coarse is ok though, because it helps keep air pockets in, and you need that for the magic to work.

I'm going to go out and take some pics tomorrow, maybe I'll do a short video, but anyone who wants to see the magic work, go to the deep litter method thread, the video is on page 167, about halfway down. It's post #1665. anyone with any questions about it should watch that video.....

 

[Gypsyhen]

Thank you all so much! We put grass clippings in regularly. If I'm standing there with handfuls of fresh clippings I have chickens surrounding me pulling the grass out and devouring it. I put out vegetable scraps. They like leaf lettuce and spinach a lot. I use a suet feeder filled with it that they love to peck at. Right now the run seems boring and I think they need more to forage for. I'm looking forward to reading about the deep litter method. The idea of a balance of nitrogen and carbon makes a lot of sense to me.

I understand about predators. It is another reason why I wanted a run instead of free ranging. A few months ago a hawk swooped down and grabbed a dove right out of our backyard. Nothing but a pile of feathers left on the ground.

 

[PapaChaz]

Thank you all so much! We put grass clippings in regularly. If I'm standing there with handfuls of fresh clippings I have chickens surrounding me pulling the grass out and devouring it. I put out vegetable scraps. They like leaf lettuce and spinach a lot. I use a suet feeder filled with it that they love to peck at. Right now the run seems boring and I think they need more to forage for. I'm looking forward to reading about the deep litter method. The idea of a balance of nitrogen and carbon makes a lot of sense to me.

I understand about predators. It is another reason why I wanted a run instead of free ranging. A few months ago a hawk swooped down and grabbed a dove right out of our backyard. Nothing but a pile of feathers left on the ground.

oh, yes you can build a frame with hardware cloth over it and plant something for them, they can't eat it until the tops get through the wire, and the wire keeps them from getting in and scratching it out by the roots.

another option, and it's on here in more than one thread, is to grow fodder. I have plans to start this myself after we return from vacation later this month. go up to the search bar and type in fodder and read up on it, it's good for them and it cuts feed costs

 

[Gypsyhen]

You all are a gold mine of information. Terms like "fodder" and "deep litter method" point me in the right direction.

 

[Nupe]

My hubby recently finished my fodder system. I should take pictures...

 

[PapaChaz]

My hubby recently finished my fodder system. I should take pictures...

yes! you should!!!!


I'm trying to research what size trays I need to use for 12 to 14 chickens. I'd like enough to last them most of the day, but gone by night so there won't be left overs for the next day. I really can't believe I even said that..............