Sand, Hay, or Pine Shavings?

[Hot Chickies]

What's the best to use on ground if your chicken run is uncovered. We considered sand, but what happens to it when it rains? Thanks for your input. We're needing something soon.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

All those by themselves will cause troubles and potentially mold.

The sand works well in a dryer climate but needs maintenance.

A good deep litter system will include those things and more and won't become a smelly mold mess.

 

[Hot Chickies]

All those by themselves will cause troubles and potentially mold.

The sand works well in a dryer climate but needs maintenance.

A good deep litter system will include those things and more and won't become a smelly mold mess.

Thanks! Need to read more about the deep litter system. I'm new to the chicken business. Any references I can use?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

There should be tons of threads on them. @lazy gardener is an expert on them. Maybe she will come by and fill you in more.

You basically throw organic matter into your run which composites down into sweet soil that drains well. Lawn clippings, fall leaves, garden weeds, hay, straw, shavings. Toss some scratch out and you chickens will work the soil. Never add anyone item in too big of a quantity, except those fall leaves, which are the main base for my deep litter. Hay goes down in winter for the chickens to stand on. Grass and weeds all summer with extra produce.

 

[chicmom]

I really like the ideas that oldhenlikesdogs just listed! I do use sand for my chicken run, and I really like it because it drains well and stays pretty fresh, but I think my chickens need some variety. So I will definitely toss in some grass clippings and such, just a little bit at a time. I never did that before because I was afraid of mold. I have a pretty large chicken run, so I think I'll try it in a small area first.