Outdoor run bedding

[cryssy]

Hello I’m new here and new to chicken keeping! I live in Southern California and have an outdoor run for my two chickens. I’ve browsed through the forums looking for answers but I haven’t been able to find a definitive answer. The run is covered and is on the top of a slight hill. The rain recently however has caused it to become a muddy mess. I can’t decide between straw, landscaping bark (no cedar right?) and sand. They have a rabbit hutch and a repurposed litterbox cabinet that I fill with PDZ. I did place some sand before the rain and it has helped but I didn’t get enough in before the rain so much of it sank into the mud. We usually only get rain intermittently during winter. Thanks for your help!

 

[LizzzyJo]

I live in a swampy area in the great lakes. It goes from normal to 4 inches underwater very quickly. I tried a few different things this year (like you mentioned), but none stood up to my husband's solution of raising the ground. He put in clay slabs he dug from our back property and leveled it out to make a hill for them (about 10 inches). He also installed a system of roosts around the run for them to play on when the ground is muddy. Here in the Great Black Swamp, when we say mud we mean MUD. Straw was a waste. I now have happy, dry footed girls! I hope this helps!

 

[Harley Chick]

Hello I’m new here and new to chicken keeping! I live in Southern California and have an outdoor run for my two chickens. I’ve browsed through the forums looking for answers but I haven’t been able to find a definitive answer. The run is covered and is on the top of a slight hill. The rain recently however has caused it to become a muddy mess. I can’t decide between straw, landscaping bark (no cedar right?) and sand. They have a rabbit hutch and a repurposed litterbox cabinet that I fill with PDZ. I did place some sand before the rain and it has helped but I didn’t get enough in before the rain so much of it sank into the mud. We usually only get rain intermittently during winter. Thanks for your help!

I have a covered run and started out with pine shavings but ended up adding straw, leaves, twigs and shredded paper. No smell and the girls love to dig around for what ever they can find. My "uncovered" run has alfalfa hay along with what ever falls from the covered run, again no smell and it has helped immensely with a soggy ground from recent rains. I just move it around with a pitch fork and the girls go to town with the new goodies they find. I'm sure you will get multiple suggestions on what others use so it's all on personal preference. Good Luck

 

[Table4Six]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined our community of crazy poultry lovers!

Depending on how large of an area you’re talking about, sand is often an excellent choice, being both absorbent and easily cleaned. However, I prefer limiting sand to be used in the coop only as it may increase chances of boredom, whereas, adding natural ground cover such as leaves, small twigs, pine needles, etc, provide ample scratching and foraging opportunities for the girls.

Again, another big welcome! And good luck!

 

[cryssy]

I live in a swampy area in the great lakes. It goes from normal to 4 inches underwater very quickly. I tried a few different things this year (like you mentioned), but none stood up to my husband's solution of raising the ground. He put in clay slabs he dug from our back property and leveled it out to make a hill for them (about 10 inches). He also installed a system of roosts around the run for them to play on when the ground is muddy. Here in the Great Black Swamp, when we say mud we mean MUD. Straw was a waste. I now have happy, dry footed girls! I hope this helps!

Thank you for the suggestions! I’ll probably try to lay down some bricks/tiles for some distance between the bedding and the dirt. It’s a good idea! I have a busy week ahead of me

 

[cryssy]

I have a covered run and started out with pine shavings but ended up adding straw, leaves, twigs and shredded paper. No smell and the girls love to dig around for what ever they can find. My "uncovered" run has alfalfa hay along with what ever falls from the covered run, again no smell and it has helped immensely with a soggy ground from recent rains. I just move it around with a pitch fork and the girls go to town with the new goodies they find. I'm sure you will get multiple suggestions on what others use so it's all on personal preference. Good Luck

I’m going to be asking the gardeners to leave all their clippings and stuff for me to put in on top! Thanks for the idea

 

[cryssy]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined our community of crazy poultry lovers!

Depending on how large of an area you’re talking about, sand is often an excellent choice, being both absorbent and easily cleaned. However, I prefer limiting sand to be used in the coop only as it may increase chances of boredom, whereas, adding natural ground cover such as leaves, small twigs, pine needles, etc, provide ample scratching and foraging opportunities for the girls.

Again, another big welcome! And good luck!

They’re right under a pine tree so once the storm passes I’ll uncover it for a while to let the ground dry out and the pine leaves will fall in on their own. Right now they’re all soaking wet on the top cover > < I was thinking of sand, then adding straw and whatever clippings the gardeners get! Thank you!

 

[aart]

landscaping bark (no cedar right?)

This would be the best...cedar would probably be OK outside, I don't think landscaping cedar is the aromatic type anyway.