Run Base.....HELP!

[SimpsyMomma]

We've had our girls (of them) in a 10x40 section of our yard for a few months. They have obviously torn up all the grass. Now it's just stinky and muddy most days. The coop is in this space and it's a prefab with a little run underneath. I have pea gravel and sand in that space. Our issue is the coop area is on a slope so all the sand and everything just washes away in the rain. Were in the midwest so sometimes we get dry spells sometimes we have crazy wet springs/falls. What are the best options for the run that is 10x40 for a base? It seems crazy expensive to throw that much money down for rocks and gravel and sand that washes away. Any help would be super appreciated!!! We even thought about mulch??

 

[nuthatched]

A chicken tractor ( moveable run) might be the best bet for you.

 

[3KillerBs]

You need to add dry, organic material to absorb water, prevent mud, and stop odor by composting with the manure.

Coarse wood chips, the sort you get from a tree trimming service, are often considered the gold standard for mud problems.

If the slope is steep enough that your bedding is washing away you'll need to do some kind of terracing. The simplest is to lay small logs across the slope, putting bedding behind each one. If it's too steep for that, then actual terracing with landscape timbers or block will be necessary.

If water is channeled into this area you will need to dig diversion ditches upslope to direct water around the run rather than through it.

 

[SimpsyMomma]

You need to add dry, organic material to absorb water, prevent mud, and stop odor by composting with the manure.

Coarse wood chips, the sort you get from a tree trimming service, are often considered the gold standard for mud problems.

If the slope is steep enough that your bedding is washing away you'll need to do some kind of terracing. The simplest is to lay small logs across the slope, putting bedding behind each one. If it's too steep for that, then actual terracing with landscape timbers or block will be necessary.

If water is channeled into this area you will need to dig diversion ditches upslope to direct water around the run rather than through it.

I left out that we have 6 of them. It's just steep enough that water doesn't puddle when it rains. It's right next to our pole barn which, we are waiting still to put gutters on. I had considered wood chips but wasn't certain because of it being uncovered. I dont want to add to the issue if its going to create mold or too much moisture. We had considered doing the cinder blocks on the edges with the wood chips.

 

[SimpsyMomma]

A chicken tractor ( moveable run) might be the best bet for you.

We had thought about that at first but the husband decided they needed to only kill the grass in ONE area and not the whole yard. We have just under 1 acre. We're ok with them tearing the grass up in their own little area. Just trying to figure out what to do now that the grass IS torn up.

 

[3KillerBs]

I left out that we have 6 of them. It's just steep enough that water doesn't puddle when it rains. It's right next to our pole barn which, we are waiting still to put gutters on. I had considered wood chips but wasn't certain because of it being uncovered. I dont want to add to the issue if its going to create mold or too much moisture. We had considered doing the cinder blocks on the edges with the wood chips.

Wood chips are an extremely popular option for many people here at BYC. They are best used aged rather than fresh because of the possible mold issue with fresh chips, but since the coarse chips allow more airflow than other materials they are among the least likely beddings to possibly mold.

Where, in general, are you?

Here in the southeastern US, my favorite run bedding is pine straw -- in part because it's free for the raking in my yard. Other areas may have other local options.

 

[perkolator]

My setup is on a slope too and materials want to migrate downhill with chicken activity. Adding terrace-style breaks, such as a line of cinder blocks/big rocks/firewood/large branches/etc, will help keep things in place longer. I would add a bunch of wood chips over it all instead of gravel or sand, with a deep enough layer it’s like a forest floor where it’s nice and spongy and harbors small critters and worms for foraging through. Over time the materials break down and you can rake the chunks aside and dig out the goods, which is a nice amended humus for gardening.

 

[SimpsyMomma]

Wood chips are an extremely popular option for many people here at BYC. They are best used aged rather than fresh because of the possible mold issue with fresh chips, but since the coarse chips allow more airflow than other materials they are among the least likely beddings to possibly mold.

Where, in general, are you?

Here in the southeastern US, my favorite run bedding is pine straw -- in part because it's free for the raking in my yard. Other areas may have other local options.

Midwest/Ohio. This year was crazy wet, some years arent. Just depends. I had heard mixed reviews on straw. I know I saw leaves/organic matter befofe and here in the next month or 2 we'll have plenty of those

 

[3KillerBs]

Wood chips make a great base to begin a "forest floor" style run.

IMO, a mix of materials is better than any one material alone because the difference in textures and materials helps prevent packing and matting.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Midwest/Ohio. This year was crazy wet, some years arent. Just depends. I had heard mixed reviews on straw. I know I saw leaves/organic matter befofe and here in the next month or 2 we'll have plenty of those

Pine straw that 3KillerBs mentioned is different than straw that you get in bales.

Most economical option for materials is sourcing from your own yard/neighbors yards (many are happy to give up bags of leaves since most areas you have to pay to dispose of them) - I have a 20x25 run and source all my run litter from my yard, so cost is zero.

Dried leaves are a great amendment, but in most cases chunky wood chips are still needed as the base material to add other organic matter into, because it doesn't break down as fast and allows for aeration and drainage to keep odors and mud down.

If you have room to store a whole truckload of chips, that's the best option (it'll seriously last you forever, and in some areas tree companies will drop off chips for free) but not everyone has that kind of space.