Run help!

[Desiree_lynn93]

I have a wooden chicken coop that is fenced in with an electric fence the chickens use as a large uncovered run. When we originally made it, it was grassy. The chickens have pulled up and eaten all the grass so now it’s just dirt. When it rains or snows it then gets slightly muddy (there’s no puddles but of course the dirt soaks in the water). I’m looking for advice on what to use to keep the dirt/mud covered and off their feet in the winter. I was thinking maybe wood pellets/chips with straw on top while monitoring the fence wires. I can’t do a deep litter method without the litter disrupting the electric fence wires. Ideas?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Wood chips work as does straw. I use straw over snow in winter.
The problem with growing forage in a chicken run is compacted soil and phosphorus leaching into the soil.
IMO, the best way to arrange a chicken run and still have greenery growing is to divide it into 3 or 4 separate paddocks. Only allowing the birds to occupy one at a time and thus allowing forage to grow in the others. Rotate the foraging areas after the plants recover.
Chickens don't eat much grass. They eradicate it when scratching for bugs and seeds.
There are several things that are much better than grass that chickens will enjoy eating and provide nutrition.
I first try to get alfalfa established which is hard to kill once it gets a foothold. In summer I plant buckwheat and in winter I plant one of several types of peas like trapper or Austrian winter peas. For most of the year, I use clover, radish, turnips and other tender forbs.

 

[BDutch]

If the run is big enough and the soil contains enough compost it is possible to have grasses and herbs in the run. Also depending on the climate of course.

Minimum run size is to provide 4m2 for each medium size chicken (standard for biological kept chickens in Europe)

 

[aart]

You could use wood chippings from tree trimmers around the coop.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Wood chips are great for soaking up water and giving something other than mud to walk on. However there is a downside. Any brown plant waste like wood chips, shavings, dried leaves and straw will break down and in the process of decomposition, they will extract all available nitrogen from the soil making growing things nearly impossible until the nitrogen is replaced.

 

[aart]

Wood chips are great for soaking up water and giving something other than mud to walk on. However there is a downside. Any brown plant waste like wood chips, shavings, dried leaves and straw will break down and in the process of decomposition, they will extract all available nitrogen from the soil making growing things nearly impossible until the nitrogen is replaced.

Yup, not for making 'garden soil'.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yup, not for making 'garden soil'.

X2. It seemed like this was a hybrid thread. One side being what to put on a vegetation free ground to keep feet clean and the other side was for getting things to grow. Sometimes those are mutually exclusive.
I try to keep some areas free from compaction and fresh feces long enough that greenery will grow.

 

[aart]

the other side was for getting things to grow

Well, the OP never mentioned growing anything

I’m looking for advice on what to use to keep the dirt/mud covered and off their feet in the winter.

Tho rotating the netting for growing forage is a viable idea, if they have the space.
Maybe they'll come back and choose one, or both

 

[BDutch]

Wood chips are great for soaking up water and giving something other than mud to walk on. However there is a downside. Any brown plant waste like wood chips, shavings, dried leaves and straw will break down and in the process of decomposition, they will extract all available nitrogen from the soil making growing things nearly impossible until the nitrogen is replaced.

Is this a mistake? Or do I mix things up? As far as I know:
Chicken poop + brown leaves, shavings and other brown materials make great compost for growing veggies. Chicken poop + grass or other green materials that contain nitrogen make bad compost.
Withouth chicken poop you can balance greens and browns for excelent compost.

 

[BDutch]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articl ... oop.75294/

"Stuff with higher nitrogen (greens)
Chicken Poop
Coffee Grounds
Green Plants (grass, leaves, trimmings)
Vegetable and fruit scraps

Stuff with higher carbon (browns)
Dried Leaves
Shredded Paper
Saw Dust"