New to this group, but question on run...

[LynetteM]

When I was young and we had chickens, we had a large run with natural ground in the woods that was not covered and other than an occasional hawk or the great horned owl, never an issue...Here, I have the coop, the run fenced all around...a teacher at my school said I need to put hay in the run because when it rains they will get some foot disease. I have never heard this before...opinions? Advice?? Thanks~ Lynette

 

[Hope Hughes]

When I was young and we had chickens, we had a large run with natural ground in the woods that was not covered and other than an occasional hawk or the great horned owl, never an issue...Here, I have the coop, the run fenced all around...a teacher at my school said I need to put hay in the run because when it rains they will get some foot disease. I have never heard this before...opinions? Advice?? Thanks~ Lynette

I dont know much about the disease (my chickens have never had any, got luck so far) but i would ise hay for anything, for chickens. They try to eat it and they cant grind it up and you will have to take to vet for removal surgery.
I put the used Pine Shavings from the inside of the coop into the run. They free range all day so only when we are gone for a ling amount of time they are in the run. There are more helpful and technical people on here that can help about the disease aspects of it all... and maybe better ideas.
Good luck!!!
​

 

[RonP]

Hi Lynette,
Ask her what disease she is referring to.
Ask her where she got her information.
She as a teacher and educator should not have any issues revealing her source, and perhaps we all can benefit by it, or rebuke her credibility as opinion.

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

Lynette

 

[aart]

Hi Lynette,
Ask her what disease she is referring to.
Ask her where she got her information.
She as a teacher and educator should not have any issues revealing her source, and perhaps we all can benefit by it, or rebuke her credibility as opinion.

Ditto Dat^^^

..and Welcome to BYC!

 

[TwinsLoveChicks]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[LynetteM]

Hi Lynette,
Ask her what disease she is referring to.
Ask her where she got her information.
She as a teacher and educator should not have any issues revealing her source, and perhaps we all can benefit by it, or rebuke her credibility as opinion.

Some kind of foot rot? I did not see him today and I am taking tomorrow as a personal day...will have to be after the holiday break. Thanks!

 

[LynetteM]

I dont know much about the disease (my chickens have never had any, got luck so far) but i would ise hay for anything, for chickens. They try to eat it and they cant grind it up and you will have to take to vet for removal surgery.
I put the used Pine Shavings from the inside of the coop into the run. They free range all day so only when we are gone for a ling amount of time they are in the run. There are more helpful and technical people on here that can help about the disease aspects of it all... and maybe better ideas.
Good luck!!!
​

So straw is okay at least for the boxes yes?

 

[Hope Hughes]

I wouldnt think they would try eat it when they are laying... that would be a choice for you to deside i know alot of people do use it for nest boxes... but me personally i wouldnt chance it. I saw a videos/ pictures of them doing surgery on chickens to remove it and it was crazy how much got impacted! I use pine shavings flakes from TSC for both the coop and the boxes and wgen i clean it out jyst put the used in the run so it doesnt get wasted. ​

 

[aart]

So straw is okay at least for the boxes yes?

I have straw in the nests...never seen the eat it.
Also throw out in the run from time to time, never seen them eat it...or not much anyway.

Is it possible for them to eat straw?.... yes.
Is it probable?.... probably not.