Run litter?

[Blessedmamaof3]

I have used sand going on 10 years. No regrets.

Do you ever have to fully clear out sand and start with fresh? If so, how often and what do you do with the sand you clear out? Do you just pile new sand on old occasionally? I'm building my first coop and thinking I want sand.

 

[jonalisa]

Do you ever have to fully clear out sand and start with fresh? If so, how often and what do you do with the sand you clear out? Do you just pile new sand on old occasionally? I'm building my first coop and thinking I want sand.

I just recently bought a load of sand to freshen up the run, but it's been 5 or 6 years since I did that. The run was built on the edge of forest land so the soil was spongy. Eventually, the sand gets scratched down into the dirt, but it takes a long time. And no, you don't have to clean it out. I don't think you will ever regret sand.

 

[Blessedmamaof3]

I just recently bought a load of sand to freshen up the run, but it's been 5 or 6 years since I did that. The run was built on the edge of forest land so the soil was spongy. Eventually, the sand gets scratched down into the dirt, but it takes a long time. And no, you don't have to clean it out. I don't think you will ever regret sand.

How deep should my sand be?

 

[jonalisa]

How deep should my sand be?

Depends on what is under it and what you can afford. Chickens are going to scratch, so if you were on cement, you'd want more sand than say, if you were on soil. I am on soil and we got our sand for free (as a trade for services) so ours is about 8-10 inches. I think at least 4-5 inches? Buy what you can afford and see how the chickens do..

 

[WIchickMama]

I am going to re-bump this thread as I have a question--for those using organic materials do you all clean out the runs at all or just let it naturally decompose and keep adding more? Is there anything that makes the smell worse or is a higher threat of crop impaction? Thank you!

 

[3KillerBs]

I am going to re-bump this thread as I have a question--for those using organic materials do you all clean out the runs at all or just let it naturally decompose and keep adding more? Is there anything that makes the smell worse or is a higher threat of crop impaction? Thank you!

Ideally, I'd only clean the run when I want compost for the garden. I haven't had to clean the current run in over a year and should have nice compost when I move the chickens to their new coop in a month or so.

I've never had a case of impacted crop.

Odor is usually caused by not having enough of the "brown" material to react with all the "green" material (manure and green plants). A large pile of wet grass clippings will quickly start to REEK.

 

[WIchickMama]

awesome thanks for the answer--one more question- is it ok to throw in pine boughs? we trimmed some trees and wanted to throw them in. I worry about impacted crop with the grass clippings, so they don't get a lot of them (yes they have an endless supply of grit but this mama is a worry wort!). My hope is to throw in some dried leaves this fall and we do some some older trees we cut down 1-2 years ago that we thought about chipping up. Will this all work? I don't want to have to clean up the run too much, but I totally can if needed. I only have food and water in the run and have a bowl that I put any fruits or veggies in. I try not to throw too much on the ground but they do love to fling stuff

 

[3KillerBs]

awesome thanks for the answer--one more question- is it ok to throw in pine boughs? we trimmed some trees and wanted to throw them in. I worry about impacted crop with the grass clippings, so they don't get a lot of them (yes they have an endless supply of grit but this mama is a worry wort!). My hope is to throw in some dried leaves this fall and we do some some older trees we cut down 1-2 years ago that we thought about chipping up. Will this all work? I don't want to have to clean up the run too much, but I totally can if needed. I only have food and water in the run and have a bowl that I put any fruits or veggies in. I try not to throw too much on the ground but they do love to fling stuff

I use pine straw, which is fallen pine needles, in my run. Let the needles go brown and the pine branches will be fine.

Chickens are creatures of the forest floor, so fall leaves are wonderful for them. Just dump in a pile and they'll do the spreading for you.

Wood chips are often considered the gold standard for run litter -- long-lasting and great against mud.

 

[aart]

is it ok to throw in pine boughs?

What kind of pine.
The kind with long soft needles.....or short sharp ones?
How big are the boughs?
I'd be hesitant to add freshly cut pine due to the sap aspect.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I am going to re-bump this thread as I have a question--for those using organic materials do you all clean out the runs at all or just let it naturally decompose and keep adding more? Is there anything that makes the smell worse or is a higher threat of crop impaction? Thank you!

I don't really clean out... it's been 3, 4 years, and the litter hasn't gotten so thick that it needs to come out. I do "steal" some for gardening use. I sift out bigger chunks of wood and toss those back into the run, and the dirt/broken down bits get mixed into the soil in my pots and raised beds.

No real risk of crop impaction unless you put in fresh grass or long blades of grass/hay, as the chickens may eat those (and as 3KillerBs noted, fresh grass clippings that get wet and start to rot smells like rotten cabbage, so just say no to fresh or wet grass!) If you want to use grass due to availability, keep clipping short, and leave them out a day or two to dry out, and the chickens will be far less likely to eat them and less likely to end up with them balled up in their crops.