Wow, my first post here that is not a question! I actually can make a contribution!
My run has been completed for about a month now. It is 10x13x5. The old run was dirt and rock compressed to about concrete hardness by decades of chicken feet and unusable. After reading flooring options here and talking with the great and wise landscape guy (he has chickens too) down the road, I made the decision to go with 2 parts sand and one part topsoil. It has really worked! Drainage is great, it packs down only slightly after use and rain, and I can easily hoe it up (its 8"deep) and turn it over every couple of weeks so it stays loose. My hens love being able to take dust baths for the first time in their lives. I have a shade over part of the run so the shaded part bottom stays somewhat cool. I couldn't make up my mind because some said soil some said sand so this is what I came up with. I have some very happy chickens!
Thanks for all the help,
Mac
My run has been completed for about a month now. It is 10x13x5. The old run was dirt and rock compressed to about concrete hardness by decades of chicken feet and unusable. After reading flooring options here and talking with the great and wise landscape guy (he has chickens too) down the road, I made the decision to go with 2 parts sand and one part topsoil. It has really worked! Drainage is great, it packs down only slightly after use and rain, and I can easily hoe it up (its 8"deep) and turn it over every couple of weeks so it stays loose. My hens love being able to take dust baths for the first time in their lives. I have a shade over part of the run so the shaded part bottom stays somewhat cool. I couldn't make up my mind because some said soil some said sand so this is what I came up with. I have some very happy chickens!
Thanks for all the help,
Mac
