Run depth and material

[kjorgey]

My husband built the covered chicken run, now it’s time to fill it. He put down vinyl coated ½” hardware cloth one foot down and used un-coated to make a skirt for predator proofing. Frame is raised on cinder blocks, to prevent wood rot. I laid down smaller rocks to weigh down the hardware cloth and he intends to place paving gravel, then a layer of dirt then my wood chips. My choice of wood chips is for #1, drainage, #2 free supply from my property. Question #1: Is 10 “of wood chips sufficient over gravel? #2 I am debating on sand verses shavings for coop, which is raised and has a plywood floor (w/ 2 layers of water based exterior paint for protection). I have some concern about sand’s weight in a raised coop. Suggestions?

 

[Tre3hugger]

I think around 3 inches thick of wood chips would work quite well. You would rarely if ever have to clean it out as it would cold compost in place. Just add more wood chips on top periodically. I believe @aart uses wood chips. Perhaps they'll weigh in.

In my coop I use pine shavings and straw mix. I use deep litter method. About six inches deep litter that I will change once or twice a year. I will weekly rake the poop under the top layer of shavings and add a bit of fresh bedding. This can go directly in the compost pile when cleaning it out bi-yearly.

There are lots of options for this. This is just what works for me! So far no ammonia or poop smell after 2 months. I also have a raised coop with plywood floor.

 

[DobieLover]

My husband built the covered chicken run, now it’s time to fill it. He put down vinyl coated ½” hardware cloth one foot down and used un-coated to make a skirt for predator proofing. Frame is raised on cinder blocks, to prevent wood rot. I laid down smaller rocks to weigh down the hardware cloth and he intends to place paving gravel, then a layer of dirt then my wood chips. My choice of wood chips is for #1, drainage, #2 free supply from my property. Question #1: Is 10 “of wood chips sufficient over gravel? #2 I am debating on sand verses shavings for coop, which is raised and has a plywood floor (w/ 2 layers of water based exterior paint for protection). I have some concern about sand’s weight in a raised coop. Suggestions?

Your layering is good but by the time the chickens get done with everything, it will all be mixed up. They love to dig.
Do you have poop boards under your roosts? They make a world of difference in how clean the coop floor bedding stays. I clean the coop bedding out annually. I clean the boards every morning. I use about 3" of hemp bedding on the coop floor but used pine shavings last year. I just use a child size rake to fluff the bedding up each night at lock up and to move it back into the landing zone so when the chickens come off the roost in the morning they have a nice fluffy landing pad.
Sand is outrageously dusty in an already dusty environment so I opt not to use it any longer. I used to have it mixed with the Sweet PDZ in the poop boards but now just go with straight granulated PDZ.

 

[aart]

Question #1: Is 10 “of wood chips sufficient over gravel?

Might do the trick, but they can dig a pretty deep hole.
If you hadn't already covered the HC run 'floor' with gravel, I'd suggest you remove it.

I think around 3 inches thick of wood chips would work quite well. You would rarely if ever have to clean it out as it would cold compost in place. Just add more wood chips on top periodically. I believe @aart uses wood chips. Perhaps they'll weigh in.

Yep 3-4" will take care of the poops, but not with HC underneath.

#2 I am debating on sand verses shavings for coop, which is raised and has a plywood floor

Not a sand fan, unless it's on a poop board.

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.

This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture:
-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.
-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.
-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.
- 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.
-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.
That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 5 years.

 

[tralfaz]

PDZ, another great tip folks, thanks