Run

[lightchicks]

Should I be putting something down in my chicken run? I use pine shavings in the coop. The run is just dirt and grass. The covered area of the run is getting smelly.

 

[DobieLover]

Should I be putting something down in my chicken run? I use pine shavings in the coop. The run is just dirt and grass. The covered area of the run is getting smelly.

I use a thick layer of wood chips. My run doesn't smell at all.
I get the wood chips for free at a local a local Town Highway Department.

 

[lightchicks]

I use a thick layer of wood chips. My run doesn't smell at all.
I get the wood chips for free at a local a local Town Highway Department.

How often do you clean the run or replace the wood chips?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Look into deep litter, with chunky wood chips as the base. It'll help alleviate any mud issues and the composting action will help eat up poop and odors.

 

[3KillerBs]

I like Deep Litter in the run.

This is a cold composting system where you use a mix of materials -- wood chips, shavings, straw, pine straw, fall leaves, or whatever other "compost browns" you have readily available -- to absorb and react with the chicken poop to turn it all into garden gold, that is, compost.

The mix of materials in different sizes and textures keeps it from packing and matting, which can create anaerobic pockets.

You start with maybe 4-6 inches of material and add more when it seems to need it -- if it looks dirty, if you notice any odor, if you have any mud, etc. You don't even have to spread it. Just dump the stuff in piles and the chickens will spread it for you.

The only maintenance Deep Litter requires is occassional stirring (the chickens will do it for you if you toss a few handfuls of scratch into the litter), and breaking up any mats or crusted areas with a manure fork.

I only cleaned my in-town run when the pile got inconveniently high so that it was spilling over the door sill or if I wanted compost for the garden.