Outdoor Pen/Run Floor ideas needed

[Rick&Chris]

Good morning BYC!!!

We received our new (bigger) coop a couple of weeks ago. I have an area under the inside roosts that is sand and PDZ, not quite 4:1 - I’ll need to mix in more PDZ. I have been sifting it every day - works well! The other area of the coop is pine shavings that I try to sift thru and will replace every 2 weeks or so. We will be adding more ventilation up top now that we have our final setup. We do have the gable end vents at the peak on both ends of the enclosed area. They are approx 15”x6” each

My question is regarding the run area which is 7’x18’ - and mostly covered (see pic) - the grass is pretty much gone now. Any recommendations on what to put in the run area to keep the poop under control? Raking it is barely working! Starting to stink in there! And they have poop on their feet (that freaks me out!).

Working on more roosts in the pen (have a swing that is not in this photo) - they aren’t too keen on it because it moves. Eventually we’ll have an outside fenced in area around this coop for them to get out - but that will probably be a spring project unless we get some decent (rain free) weather here in S.E. PA.

Would love to see photos of your runs, outdoor roosts, etc!

 

[N F C]

What a beautiful coop!

Some people collect bags of tree leaves for their runs. Maybe that's an option for you?

 

[DobieLover]

I LOVE your new coop!

Where I live, the municipalities collect branches, old Christmas trees, etc and run it through a chipper shredder and offer it for free. I use a thick layer of this along with leaves that are raked up in the fall.

Just rake once a week and it composts.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I agree dry "brown" materials need added to make a fluffy base that can be easily turned by the birds or humans.

I have used leaves, dried grass after mowing, straw (not as easy to work with at all), pine shavings (those take FOREVER to decompose) and alfalfa bales.

Others have added pine pellets (they had to be wetted so they would break down into sawdust like material) with good success. You wouldn't want the birds to eat those pellets but once broken down some they seem to work well.

I personally find my run stays drier and stink free when the sun can shine in.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I do deep litter. Tons of threads on that throughout BYC. Mine's mostly dried leaves on a base of wood chips, with various other organic matter mixed in depending on season, like lawn and garden clippings.

 

[aart]

Any recommendations on what to put in the run area to keep the poop under control?

In run aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO. Other stuff can be added but the wood does the best and biggest job and lasts the longest. Hard to find those this time of year. Garden center might have some uncolored and untreated mulch chunks that would stand in nicely. You could just toss some straw and pine shavings down, not too much of either one at once, should reduce the odor some until you get some bigger stuff.

Click pic, then use arrows for more pics:

 

[Rick&Chris]

I do deep litter. Tons of threads on that throughout BYC. Mine's mostly dried leaves on a base of wood chips, with various other organic matter mixed in depending on season, like lawn and garden clippings.

View attachment 1633125

These are all great ideas, thank you! So you add un-dyed wood chips and add more on top? How often do you do a 100% change? My real issue will be underneath the enclosed coop (7’x6’) is very hard to reach.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Who build that coop for you? And how much did it cost?

 

[aart]

These are all great ideas, thank you! So you add un-dyed wood chips and add more on top? How often do you do a 100% change? My real issue will be underneath the enclosed coop (7’x6’) is very hard to reach.

It will all break down and you shouldn't need to clean anything out, ever.
At least that's how it works here.

Getting under the coop could be a problem for other reasons,
like a broody or injured bird, eggs laid under there, etc.
It looks pretty low, too low to hands and knees it.
Is there an access door anywhere?

 

[Rick&Chris]

Who build that coop for you? And how much did it cost?

Got it from a shed distributor near us. Did you want their name/number? Cost a small fortune! I’m embarrassed to say - I love all the homemade ones, but we didn’t have the time to build one or convert a shed. We wanted an “animal enclosure”, too, so that we didn’t have issues with the Twp.