Outdoor Run..."Bedding"?

[Carrie S]

With using sand in the run, is your run covered? As usual when you research on the web, you find lots of praise and lots of negative. We will be covering our run soon and have thought about adding sand. Trying to get all the info I can on sand in a run.

 

[vmess]

Our 4 seasons tractor is parked during the winter. I raked it out a couple times a month through the winter. When I moved it in the spring and went to throughly rake it I had the dirt into concrete issue as well. During the summer if I don't move them for a few days I get mini versions of this same phenom, "poop plates". The winter versions are much worse as they are much deeper and cover the whole run area. Get a solid metal rake and be prepared to stab the tines into the crust and peel back the plates. I know it sounds weird but once you start doing it you will understand.

 

[bork3011]

Hi, I would like to know more about the sand in the run. We have our coop and run up and at the moment we got 2 little girls and will be adding some more in the spring. Does it matter what kind of sand you use? I read that some use construction sand, which I haven't found any. We only have Rural King, Lowes and Menards available. Can I use play sand or do I have to use construction sand? Thank you

 

[Usrudd]

With using sand in the run, is your run covered? As usual when you research on the web, you find lots of praise and lots of negative. We will be covering our run soon and have thought about adding sand. Trying to get all the info I can on sand in a run.

How did it turn out for u with the sand in Run? That is what I currently have but I do not love scooping poop from sand daily on my knees. How’s it working for you and what did you learn?

Thanks!
U

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

I have two large uncovered (but fenced) runs, and fill them with whatever "free" organic materials I can find. That means fall leaves, pine needles, soiled shavings from coop cleanouts, old straw from nesting boxes, etc.

I find that having the organics really cuts down on the smell, and any poop, left over food scraps, etc. get composted in as the girls constantly turn over the materials (looking for bugs and other morsels).

I'm actually amazed how quickly materials get broken down with the constant turning. It's actually a challenge to keep enough materials in there!

 

[micstrachan]

I spent a year slowly sifting out rocks and adding sand so that I COULD easily scoop poop. Loved it! Until it started raining. Added a bag of rice hulls to entertain the girls. They went berzerk loving it. Now I added leaves and clean pine shavings to keep the mud in check. I still pick up as much poop as I can see, but only have a flock of nine. I find tbe girls are much happier with some organic matter to dig through in their run. The jury is still out as to how I like this long term over winter. Rainy season has barely begunhere in California.

 

[Haleyrbloom]

I read that someone mixed rice hulls with dirt and sand. Rice hulls are supposed to be a Barrier between any moisture and poop.

I will be trying this out in a couple days.

 

[jeffy2]

my coop/run area is set up with a 2x4 welded wire across the floor and up the sides about 24" (to keep critters from digging under and in) then laid over with screen, covered with pea gravel, and plenty of fresh lawn clippings on top of that. The flock gets to get out and free roam the yard, but hopefully ive done a decent job at making the locked in run area nice enough. Im hoping for the combination of clippings and droppings to break down into a nice soil type compost layer for the run floor. Good tip on putting DE in there as well, i think i will add that to the mix with the next dump of grass.

 

[Dishens]

my coop/run area is set up with a 2x4 welded wire across the floor and up the sides about 24" (to keep critters from digging under and in) then laid over with screen, covered with pea gravel, and plenty of fresh lawn clippings on top of that. The flock gets to get out and free roam the yard, but hopefully ive done a decent job at making the locked in run area nice enough. Im hoping for the combination of clippings and droppings to break down into a nice soil type compost layer for the run floor. Good tip on putting DE in there as well, i think i will add that to the mix with the next dump of grass.

How has this worked out?

 

[Newyorkrita]

Humm. Rice Hulls. That is new to me as I had never heard of them.