RUN-replenish dirt?

[Super Admin]

Hello everyone....LOVE THIS FORUM!! Thanks to everyone and all of the great ideas. Have a question about my chicken run. I had cleared out an area next to our wood line and we builit a 10x13 run area for our girls. They get out in the yard a few hours daily. (Because we have dogs...they are limited). Anyway, I notice that they really dig things up out there and are getting down to all sorts of roots and rocks! I have to clean it up regularly and try to grade it off. I don't think there is a living thing left in this coop. Put in grass clippings and they got to stinking REAL bad. Took them out and won't try that again. Is this normal? Should I put anything down on the ground for them? Just wondering.
Loving my new girls!

Love to watch them run after us...SOOO cute.

 

[valentinebaby]

Most people on this site recommend sand in the run - easy to clean and dries fast. I'd also sprinkle a bit of DE and mix it in - will help dry the poop and ease up the stinky smell. Chickens will quickly leave an area barren to the soil. Since I only have about 1/3 of my run covered with sand, I use Stall Dry (found at TSC) to help keep it dry. Good luck!