Run flooring ???

[srd5757]

Okay, so currently the run is just natural grass & weeds. However, I have a feeling they are going to anialate that soon when we are gone on vacation and they don't get to free range.
I've seen several other posts of people using pea gravel or sand... I'm assuming if you use sand you just have to scoop poo like cat litter almost... How do you clean up a pea gravel run? And does this all add up? I would think you would end up throwing alot away???
Sorry, I'm new at this...

 

[Rusty's Ranch]

We've been really happy with sand in our run. In the beginning I would put the droppings in a garden sieve and shake out the sand, but stopped doing that. We only add about 1 or 2 bags of sand a year. It's easy to keep clean, drains well in the rain and doesn't smell

 

[fifenashia]

I loved sand but it was expensive to fill our run with. I have found that straw is great especially when the run floods as it keeps their little chicken butts above water. Then in the hen house we have sand down with shavings on top and straw on top of that. The straw is super easy to turn over when it gets dirty and then compost once its beyond hope.

If you can afford sand, I'd say go for it! But for a cheaper alternative, straw is pretty good. IMO

 

[chfite]

I like sand and soil. The chickens turn all this over in their everyday doings, so there is no cleaning involved. Poop decomposes in the soil. This works better with lots of room for the chickens. I have 320 square feet of run for 10 chickens.

Sand is not too expensive, if you have a truck or a friend with a truck.

Chris

 

[srd5757]

Trying to think of ways to keep clean and keep smell down.
As I mentioned the run is currently grass/weed. We are in a suburdan area so I do have neighbors to consider. And the run itself is only 10x6. So there's not a ton of room. However, they do free-range at least 4 hours a day.
My biggest question was how to clean a pea gravel coop... pea gravel kinda appeals to me, I think for the look.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

How much money do you want to spend and how long will they be in there? If they can return to free range I'd do nothing, then reseed and dress the run when they are back to free range.