Run bedding/ground?

[ascott11]

Hi everyone!

I was wondering what kind of bedding would be best to use in my chicken run. In their coop I decided to use the deep litter method and the chickens love it. In my run I just have the grass and dirt that was there when I built it. My run is covered and doesn’t get very wet when it rains. I thought of sand but I can’t find the kind needed for chickens. What’s worked best for you? What do you recommend? Thanks!!

 

[3KillerBs]

I followed advice given on this forum to use a mix of various materials in the run -- wood chips, wood shavings, pine straw, leaves, and straw (put in as whole bales during central NC's mild, wet winters to give them something to sit on (by spring they've spread it around and mixed it up).

I threw in garden weeds, corn husks shucked from our summer dinners, etc.

In due time I harvested rich compost.

 

[~KH~]

I followed advice given on this forum to use a mix of various materials in the run -- wood chips, wood shavings, pine straw, leaves, and straw (put in as whole bales during central NC's mild, wet winters to give them something to sit on (by spring they've spread it around and mixed it up).

I threw in garden weeds, corn husks shucked from our summer dinners, etc.

In due time I harvested rich compost.

That's what I've done, too, and it's been great. No smell, very little maintenance (just adding more materials and sometimes I turn it over for them because they get excited about that).

 

[3KillerBs]

... sometimes I turn it over for them because they get excited about that).

I usually found them willing to turn it over themselves -- encouraged by a handful of scratch if necessary.

(I can't wait to get onto my country property and have chickens again -- useful, entertaining, and tasty).

 

[ascott11]

I followed advice given on this forum to use a mix of various materials in the run -- wood chips, wood shavings, pine straw, leaves, and straw (put in as whole bales during central NC's mild, wet winters to give them something to sit on (by spring they've spread it around and mixed it up).

I threw in garden weeds, corn husks shucked from our summer dinners, etc.

In due time I harvested rich compost.

Straw has never been an issue for you? I’ve been reading up on the different types of bedding and it seems as though everyone either loves every method I’ve read about or hates it!

 

[~KH~]

I usually found them willing to turn it over themselves -- encouraged by a handful of scratch if necessary.

(I can't wait to get onto my country property and have chickens again -- useful, entertaining, and tasty).

Oh they will, but it creates quite a bit of excitement if I dig a big hole in it for them, so I oblige them occasionally

 

[3KillerBs]

Straw has never been an issue for you?

I didn't like using straw in the coop. I tried it once but found that shavings were much better about keeping it dry and odor-free. But in the run straw just got mixed up with everything else. By warm weather the bales weren't bales anymore and when the wheat and weed seeds sprouted the chickens were happy to have green snacks.

I didn't use straw exclusively. The bales were just there to provide a platform for sitting with dry feet because even well-drained, sandy soil can get a bit icky in extended wet weather.

By the time Florence came to call I didn't have the chickens, but I'd have gotten them a couple bales to sit on then too.

I never closed the pop door because the run was predator-hardened and I kept the feed and water out there. Even in the worst weather they'd spread out in the covered and uncovered portions of the run or go under the coop. They didn't hang out indoors much.

 

[ascott11]

I didn't like using straw in the coop.

Thank you for sharing your experience! I went ahead and put some pine shavings in for now (I think too much, but they’re kicking it around!) my run hasn’t gotten very wet at all when we have had rains on it stays pretty dry. I’ll have to add in the extras once I get some! They love scratching around in everything so they’re going nuts over the pine shavings!

 

[aart]

My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.