Run

[Countryman101]

I'm going to redo the chicken run. I was wondering what everyone use. Do you leave the ground as is or do you add sand, gravel what is everyone's opinion.

 

[Logar]

I'm going to redo the chicken run. I was wondering what everyone use. Do you leave the ground as is or do you add sand, gravel what is everyone's opinion.

I use pine bark nuggets. they work great for me. They break down slowly so I just have to add some every 4,5,6 months. the chickens seem to prefer them over the other stuff I have tried

 

[Countryman101]

I use pine bark nuggets. they work great for me. They break down slowly so I just have to add some every 4,5,6 months. the chickens seem to prefer them over the other stuff I have tried

How often do you have to clean the run

 

[Logar]

How often do you have to clean the run

I don't. The chickens mix the bark around that the poop gets mixed in and breaks down quickly. no smell at all

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Might depend on factors such as how big is the run, how many chickens, humidity, etc.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm going to redo the chicken run. I was wondering what everyone use. Do you leave the ground as is or do you add sand, gravel what is everyone's opinion.

Why are you redoing it? Are you fixing a problem or is it just time to remodel?

In my opinion, it needs to stay dry. If water drains to it or stands in it then it is unpleasant and unhealthy, it can stink and harbor dangerous microbes. If it stays dry it doesn't matter very much what you use. If it stays wet you can use different techniques and materials to get it dry. So my first question is "Does it stay dry?" If not, I'll have a lot more questions.

I think any bedding material should be relatively inexpensive and readily available. What can you get? Some materials people use are wood chips, hay, straw, dries leaves, sand, dirt, grass clippings, and who knows what else. Some people turn their run into a compost pile (called the deep litter method) and add kitchen wastes and garden wastes to other things. I have over 2,000 square feet that is a fruit and nut orchard covered in grass.

I think size and number of chickens makes a difference. Mine drains pretty well and I have a lot of space compared to my number of chickens. I leave mine as is. If I had a small fenced in area I'd do differently. If it stayed wet I'd do differently.

 

[Countryman101]

Why are you redoing it? Are you fixing a problem or is it just time to remodel?

In my opinion, it needs to stay dry. If water drains to it or stands in it then it is unpleasant and unhealthy, it can stink and harbor dangerous microbes. If it stays dry it doesn't matter very much what you use. If it stays wet you can use different techniques and materials to get it dry. So my first question is "Does it stay dry?" If not, I'll have a lot more questions.

I think any bedding material should be relatively inexpensive and readily available. What can you get? Some materials people use are wood chips, hay, straw, dries leaves, sand, dirt, grass clippings, and who knows what else. Some people turn their run into a compost pile (called the deep litter method) and add kitchen wastes and garden wastes to other things. I have over 2,000 square feet that is a fruit and nut orchard covered in grass.

I think size and number of chickens makes a difference. Mine drains pretty well and I have a lot of space compared to my number of chickens. I leave mine as is. If I had a small fenced in area I'd do differently. If it stayed wet I'd do differently.

I had ducks in there and I had gravel to 1/2 inch stones in there to help with the mudd. I do have half of the run covered with a tarp to help to keep them dry. But I figured with getting chickens now I would want to clean it up before I get them.