run floor materials

[cobvob]

hi there! we are hoping someone can help with our problem. We got our first chickens 2 weeks ago and they have long since got rid of any grass we had for them! Our query is this:- we have read on this site a few times that wood chip is best to put down. However, i spoke to our community farm today and they advised against this as they say that the wood chip encourages worms and they had lost chickens this way (their vet told them to get rid). Are they confusing wood chip with chip bark, I wonder? Any advise would be greatly welcomed as we are very confused!

 

[rosyposyosy]

what is wrong with plain dirt?

 

[cobvob]

no objections to dirt! just worried about it getting smelly.

 

[rosyposyosy]

i had straw for a while in mine (i didnt put it there, the chickens scratched it out of the straw bale) and it was putrid! now that it is just dirt it doesnt smell at all - but they do free range most of the time...

 

[cobvob]

our chickens are in the run all day (come rain or shine!) as they are in our back garden and it's not practical to free range unfortunately. Thanks for your help though, it is reassuring!

 

[NewGuineaChooks]

The nice thing about straw/hay, though, is that you can fork/rake it out now and then and put new stuff in. that's handy in rainy weather.

Also good addition to the compost pile if you do such.

 

[Barnyard Dawg]

We use pine shavings in the hen house and sand in the pen or run. This makes it very easy to keep clean.

 

[cobvob]

great stuff. Thanks guys!

 

[pattycake]

We had a couple of trees cut down and turned to wood chips. It seems to make excellent cover for the run.

 

[usalbrechts]

what can anyone say about throwing fall leaves in the run??? We are nearing that time of year again. We have a big pile in the woods we keep adding our choke cherry and oak leaves to every year. I am thinking of maybe throwing some in the run too?????