Run Question (poo question)

[enggass]

How deep deep you make it?

 

[CityChook]

couple inches. it has to be replaced every couple months but it's not expensive so I don't really care.

 

[MelindaK]

I went to buy feed today and was going to buy some grit and saw the grit was granite. I asked the feed store guy who was helping me if this was same as decomposed granite, because I have a 5 ton pile I still need to spread out for our landscaping. He said it was. I am thinking I will put some of the extra decomposed granite in the run.

It is grit and keeps the mud down.

 

[smithhouse]

Quote:
I was talking to a friend today about sand. I am planning on putting it in our 10x7.5 run. We have 5 sweet chickies as of Monday. My friend was saying that she wondered if the sand would last and was telling me about her hens constantly digging holes. Most everything I have read on here is positive about sand. Should I have to worry? I was thinking 6" would be enough. Thanks for any advice : )

 

[CityChook]

Worry?

don't worry - be happy.

It doesn't last - it has to be replenished occasionally. That's okay. 6 inches is a fair amount of sand, so should last a good long while.
And yep, they LOVE to dig holes. Better that they do it in the sand in the run than under your prized rose bush.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't clean mine, but I have a 12' x 32' run for 8 chickens. With smaller runs and certain conditions, it can be a great idea. And it is an excellent addition to a compost pile. Consider pure chicken poop as green compared to brown in a compost pile. It is high in nitrogen.

 

[elmo]

Quote:
Hmm, I was just thinking about the granite grit I bought for my flock. I wouldn't put something like that down for my chickens to walk on. I'd be concerned about abrading the bottoms of their feet, which could then lead to bumblefoot infections. A little grit thrown around is one thing, but a whole bed of it? No, I don't think so.

 

[Opa]

I rake my runs and fill in the craters that the birds have excavated and occasionally add more sand. In the areas that they seem to prefer dusting in I add a little DE and ocassionally some Sevin.
I used to dump grass clipping in the run but when I discovered that it often leads to crop impaction I've quit. When the birds eat grass from standing grass or weeds, they break off small pieces. When eating cut plants they eat it like they are sucking up spaghetti and too many long pieces soon start packing.

 

[PennyPew]

Quote:
I've been toying with this idea myself. Our run is under a big tree and the ground has become hard and packed and, of course, grass-less! What kind of earth do you have under the sand? I worry that sand won't even be enough given how hard our texas dirt it! How do you clean it? Rake? Do you put straw on TOP of sand sometimes? Thanks mucho!

 

[CityChook]

It's just plain ol' midwestern dirt under the added sand. Not that compacted I'm guessing since they've dug holes at the corners for dustbathe-ing. I just rake it with a garden rake. The kind with the big tines. I don't put straw down because I don't really see the need. It's just one more thing to have to clean up.