New run addition..question on run flooring

[vantain]

My existing run was built onto the back of my chicken coop, which is a converted children's playhouse. No issues with the run, but the ground where I live is mainly sand. The existing run has been pulverized by the older flock of chickens, making it not hard packed at all. It's all very deep loose and very sandy. I'd like to address that somehow. However, I am adding onto the west side of the coop to add additional run space for the new chicks I have in the coop brooder. I have attached a picture of what the ground looks like. It's grassy now, but we all know what that will look like within a few months of chickens being in there. I know I'm going to have the same problems in this run as time goes on. It's just the nature of the soil where I live. I'd like the run floor to be more compacted, and less loose sand. Has anyone ever just dumped road gravel in their run? That packs down fairly well. I'm just trying to figure out what I can do to minimize it being so loose.

Here's the run, under construction...and yeah..it's not tall enough for me to stand in...ugh...but I was trying to work with the roof lines I already have. Still wishing I had raised the roof on that playhouse when I was converting it. I can stand in the other run though.

 

[Kafen]

First off, that looks amazing! I don’t think not being able to walk under will be a huge issue, it’s not too low that you can’t bend. As for the ground, I may be new to the whole chicken thing, but I’m a horse person predominantly and footing is a very important topic there. If you want good footing, it comes in layers.

First is to take off the top layer of soil that can just turn into mud. Then you put down landscaping fabric, which prevents not only weeds growing up (for a time), but more importantly, it keeps your gravel from literally sinking into the ground a disappearing. From there you out down 3/4” clean crush. This interlocks to make a solid base, but doesn’t compact so much that water can’t drain through. Finally, you add your top layer. If you don’t want it too be too loose, look into crusher dust. This compacts very well and is easy to walk on, all while remaining nice and dry!

I’ve also seen a some cool raised platforms with wire on the top so chickens can peck at it when it gets long enough but can’t get at the roots and dig it up. Thought that was pretty neat!

 

[BackyardJulz]

Limestone fines will compact nicely, and 23A limestone (~3/4” and smaller) works good as a base but the chickens can really move the bigger chunks around too much.

I’d try landscape fabric and fines, and use a compactor on it if you can. It will still drain even when compacted as hard as concrete, and you can grade it to help with any run off. It is really disheartening to lose your gravel to the lawn.

 

[3KillerBs]

Soft sand is good -- some people buy it for their runs on purpose.

I'm on sand naturally, but since I didn't want the work of scooping poop I went with the deep litter method -- mixing pine straw, shavings, wood chips, straw, fall leaves, and whatever other random compost browns came into my hands. It was odor-free and never collected water. If they dug out a spot that got a little mucky in the winter I just added more litter there.

 

[aart]

I'd like the run floor to be more compacted, and less loose sand.

Why?
Erosion of the slope?
Will the new run have a solid roof?

and yeah..it's not tall enough for me to stand in...ugh

For scale...how tall is the door to the coop?

 

[vantain]

Why?
Erosion of the slope?
Will the new run have a solid roof?

For scale...how tall is the door to the coop?

Ha ha...5'....don't ask how many times I have hit my head on that door! The coop itself..is 8' wide x 6' deep inside. The attached run behind it is 8x8.

 

[vantain]

Why?
Erosion of the slope?
Will the new run have a solid roof?

For scale...how tall is the door to the coop?

New run will have a steel panel roof, with some skylights for additional light inside. I'm in Minnesota, so having an wind free indoor run is important to me and I think, my chickens. They are usually out in the run all winter, no matter how cold it is. I do put up plastic to block the wind for them.

Erosion isn't a concern, since it will be covered. I just thought they did better on more hard packed surfaces. They dig some mighty big holes in that other run, just to get down to the more hard packed layer about a foot down into the soil. Here's the current run. Maybe I'm being too picky.

 

[aart]

Erosion isn't a concern, since it will be covered. I just thought they did better on more hard packed surfaces. They dig some mighty big holes in that other run

No, they like to dig and dust bathe, it's good 'enrichment' activity.
Scratching at gravel could damage their feet.
Oh, yes, I know about the big holes:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/excavation-by-birds-a-word-of-warning.1086535/

Maybe I'm being too picky.

Yes, you are

Ha ha...5'....don't ask how many times I have hit my head on that door!

Just pretend you live in rustic England where it seems all the doors are short,
at least in a few shows I watch.

 

[kiwi-chick]

Try putting a composting pile in the chicken run - it will give them something to scratch in and entertain and feed them all at the same time!

 

[vantain]

Try putting a composting pile in the chicken run - it will give them something to scratch in and entertain and feed them all at the same time!

I might have to try this with this new flock. Though with my two older girls, they tended to eat leaves and things they shouldn't. They particularly like tall grass, which ends up giving them problems.