Pea gravel outdoor flooring for the run - good or bad?

[Mattemma]

Since I lost all my grass I have been putting down a bale of straw. Keeps the hens busy and when the time is right I can rake it all up and compost. Less poop overload in the run this way,and the straw brings out a bit of worms and grass growing.

I would get a bag of poutry grit at the feed store. I bought mine a year or 2 ago and I still have 75% of the bag. I toss some in the run and shed.

I put sand in one corner of my run.Sand I had in the shed.Thought they might dust bathe in it,but they dug mud holes to roll around in!

I say try various things till you find something you like. I tried deep litter and sand in my chicken shed and did not like either.Never know till you try.

 

[MakNugget]

I don't scoop poop, as I just found the whole process impossible due to the texture of the sand. To be honest, I don't think I would have even if the sand were pure. We got it from sand lot down the road, and it had some pea sized gravel mixed in (and some glass too

).

I have it in my run and the poop pretty much disintegrates. During the warm months, I would occasionally spray it down to "rinse" the sand. I've gone through 3 seasons now and the only thing I've done since is add a bag or two of sand and pea gravel, or rake it once in a while. I like to add enough pea gravel to give the sand some texture. It's worked so well I don't plan to change the process.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I have a covered run. I put coarse clean construction sand in my run. They can still dig down to the dirt. I rake my run every day or two ,just lightly to catch the majority of the mess. It's very easy to maintain. I figure each spring I'll add just add a 1/2 yard or so.

 

[columbiacritter]

Quote:
Remember chickens are basically feathered rototillers. You may put everything down in nice layers, that would work perfect for clean up and drainage, but the chickens will NOT leave it that way very long. Plan on your substrate being churned up, kicked around, piled in strange spots and big holes being dug in it.

 

[kingdr85]

I am glad to know that I dont always have to scoop the poop - Has anyone tried the Pea gravel (NO SAND, just Pea Gravel)?

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

The thing about pea gravel is that it becomes part of the soil unless you underlay it with geotec fabric of some kind. Once it is mixed with the soil you have a heavy cemented kind of mixture that is very hard to move or rake or so anything with...that's what happens in our soils anyway.

 

[Carrie Lynn]

I used pea gravel in a dog run and would not do that again.
The gravel kept the moisture in and there was an awful dog pee smell.
It was only after a dry spell that I found the odor diminished.

I have been trying to decide what to put in my chicken yard and after reading all the posts, I think I'll use builders sand.

 

[kingdr85]

I think i am convinced as well....It sounds like SAND it is. I will only have 2-3 hens (i will really try to resist the chicken math) so it really shouldnt be that bad to clean/scoop the poop if I had to.

 

[daddysgirlz]

I used sand and pea gravel when I built our coop and run last year....I wish I had just used sand...it dries quickly and the birds love to dust bathe in it. Everytime I clean out the coop floor I have peagravel that goes into the compost. Now everyone is gonna say that peagravel will mix well into the garden, but after a few years your garden will be nothing but gravel...Wish I had used just sand... I have a covered run also....oh yeah and I use a kitty litter scoop to sift the pine shavings and poop out of the sand ...works great!

 

[2mefarm]

we have sand in our closed coop area and it is super easy to clean up with a kitty litter shovel a few times a week. and pea gravel all around 20X20 area outside of coop and my husband just hoses it all down once a week so poop drains to bottom of gravel, again SUPER EASY!