daddybld
In the Brooder
- Apr 1, 2017
- 5
- 0
- 10
Hi All:
I'm new to the forum, having joined after spending a lot of time and learning so much. This site is great. My question concerns how, or if, I should put something down in my run.
I have built what I call a run - a 360 degree wire-enclosed space - into which I have placed a coop. The coop is simply a small building for roosting and nesting. At least this is what I call the two parts
e run and the coop.
The run is really just to protect the chickens at night (although the coop closes up tight) and to give the chickens some leg room when I need to travel. Otherwise, the run gate is left open and the chickens get the run of the yard.
The run floor is the ground - beautiful fertile earth (I used a 2' hardware cloth apron on the outside). Plain dirt. This means it can get muddy, and will have morning dew. The site is partial shade. I live in CA, where there's no rain for like 8-9 months, then a rainy season.
So I'm wondering whether I should throw something down on that dirt to help the chickens' feet stay clean. Is this where I would lightly throw down straw? Raking would work. Sweeping would not, so shavings don't seem to make sense.
I'm an avid hot-composter. So I always have grass clippings, shredded magnolia leaves, or even compost to put out. So perhaps I just put the grass and shredded leaves in occasionally? I've read straw can be bad (moldy and hurt the chickens).
Thoughts would be appreciated. I've read a lot on the forum about litter, but that seems to be the stuff one uses inside of a full coop with a floor. My chickens will only use the coop at night and for laying eggs.
Thank you.
I'm new to the forum, having joined after spending a lot of time and learning so much. This site is great. My question concerns how, or if, I should put something down in my run.
I have built what I call a run - a 360 degree wire-enclosed space - into which I have placed a coop. The coop is simply a small building for roosting and nesting. At least this is what I call the two parts
e run and the coop.The run is really just to protect the chickens at night (although the coop closes up tight) and to give the chickens some leg room when I need to travel. Otherwise, the run gate is left open and the chickens get the run of the yard.
The run floor is the ground - beautiful fertile earth (I used a 2' hardware cloth apron on the outside). Plain dirt. This means it can get muddy, and will have morning dew. The site is partial shade. I live in CA, where there's no rain for like 8-9 months, then a rainy season.
So I'm wondering whether I should throw something down on that dirt to help the chickens' feet stay clean. Is this where I would lightly throw down straw? Raking would work. Sweeping would not, so shavings don't seem to make sense.
I'm an avid hot-composter. So I always have grass clippings, shredded magnolia leaves, or even compost to put out. So perhaps I just put the grass and shredded leaves in occasionally? I've read straw can be bad (moldy and hurt the chickens).
Thoughts would be appreciated. I've read a lot on the forum about litter, but that seems to be the stuff one uses inside of a full coop with a floor. My chickens will only use the coop at night and for laying eggs.
Thank you.
