Run over concrete

[Chicken_Ninja]

Hi everyone I'm still planning the coop and run construction.
It is clear that run should be over soil area, however I have an already existing open vast area of concrete that is very convenient for a run next to the coop.
This may sound very naive, but I thought I could use the expertise here:

Can a run be constructed over concrete area?
If not, why? Why do the chickens actually need the soil for?
And, is there a way to make it work? Like adding a layer of soil for example? What thickness would work?

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[aart]

Would be much better if they had soil to scratch and dust bathe in.
Knowing more about your plans and some pics of the site might help here.

Also.....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Chickens enjoy scratching and digging so if not soil, you should add some sort of substrate that they can dig to their heart's content. Sand, organic litter, soil, etc.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Concrete is hard, rough on legs and feet, cold in the winter, hot in the summer, easy to clean but smells awful if you don't get to it. Makes them maintaining their beak and claws easy but I just throw a cinderblock in my pen for that.
Soil allows for digging, dust bathing, foraging bugs, finding grit, maybe even eating green plants.

Personally I'd use a substrate on top of the concrete. The concrete will keep animals from digging in. Some people use sand but I prefer deep litter that I don't ever have to clean.

If you need a cheap deep litter substrate in large quantities, see if a local arborist/tree removal company will drop off truckloads of arborist wood chips. Let them age if you can to make sure fungal bloom levels are lower. I just got my pile, about 8 cubic yards. Usually it's free.
Throw in a couple bags/buckets of clean gravel and sand so there's grit in the soil. If you wanna go crazy, throw a few cubic yards of topsoil in and a small bundle of local bugs, earthworms and pillbugs are popular. Rake in all your leaves each year. You could even plant grass on that mix. The total combination with the chicken poop will compost down into rich soil you can shovel out for gardens or leave put to build up a deeper substrate. You could just keep adding onto it as much as you'd like.

 

[Chicken_Ninja]

Would be much better if they had soil to scratch and dust bathe in.
Knowing more about your plans and some pics of the site might help here.

Also.....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2065285

Thanks, done . It is in Lebanon, 1200 meter high mountain, dry Mediterranean climate, 2-month hot summers, mild cold winters (2-3 weeks of frost) with long springs and falls.

Area is around 450 sq feet area for the run sunny and strong winds from time to time. (can't take a photo of it before next week, hope that gives an idea).

 

[Chicken_Ninja]

Concrete is hard, rough on legs and feet, cold in the winter, hot in the summer, easy to clean but smells awful if you don't get to it. Makes them maintaining their beak and claws easy but I just throw a cinderblock in my pen for that.
Soil allows for digging, dust bathing, foraging bugs, finding grit, maybe even eating green plants.

Personally I'd use a substrate on top of the concrete. The concrete will keep animals from digging in. Some people use sand but I prefer deep litter that I don't ever have to clean.

If you need a cheap deep litter substrate in large quantities, see if a local arborist/tree removal company will drop off truckloads of arborist wood chips. Let them age if you can to make sure fungal bloom levels are lower. I just got my pile, about 8 cubic yards. Usually it's free.
Throw in a couple bags/buckets of clean gravel and sand so there's grit in the soil. If you wanna go crazy, throw a few cubic yards of topsoil in and a small bundle of local bugs, earthworms and pillbugs are popular. Rake in all your leaves each year. You could even plant grass on that mix. The total combination with the chicken poop will compost down into rich soil you can shovel out for gardens or leave put to build up a deeper substrate. You could just keep adding onto it as much as you'd like.

Thanks, very helpful!