To create the closest thing to nature, but only if you have a weather proof pen and roof, use 5-6 inches of sand, 5-6 inches of dried horse manure, and if you can find them up to a foot of shredded corn shucks. Your chickens will almost bust a gut because they love to scratch in this and the shucks are lose enough to allow them to turn them over and over again and again to find scratch grain treats. I've seen an adult hen and rooster completely bury themselves in the shredded shucks and still the rooster kept talking to his hen as he searched for tidbits to give her.
Now I hope you understand why I said you need a weather proof and water tight pen, because if this bedding gets wet the horse manure will sourer and you will have a mell of a hess.
Some of you Midwest people need to put a bug in the ears of your corn growing friends and ask them to bale you some corn shucks.
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