Sand or pine shavings or what in run?

[Devorah]

This topic may have already been covered generally (sorry!) but here go my questions:

I am planning a renovation of the run so that it is ready for my first ever chicks after they have matured in the brooder! Should I be using sand, pine shavings, straw or something else?

I have read about the benefits of river or construction sand, but have no idea how much or whether there is other preparation I need to do before dumping it in the run.

If I use pine shavings or straw, am I just putting it on top of the sand/earth currently in the run?

Thanks so much for your guidance and recommendations! I feel a bit out at sea…

 

[Percheron chick]

Depends. Most will agree no to shavings. They will easily blow around the back yard. Do you have drainage problems, neighbors, # of chickens, size of run, how much time do you want to spend maintaining it...?
The overwhelming vote will be to deep litter. A chunky material like wood chips, leaves, straw pine needles, free would be where you should start.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

I use sand, pine shaving hold in mites and mold. So its a no go for me i only use shavings in boxes or for chicks thats it

 

[Devorah]

Depends. Most will agree no to shavings. They will easily blow around the back yard. Do you have drainage problems, neighbors, # of chickens, size of run, how much time do you want to spend maintaining it...?
The overwhelming vote will be to deep litter. A chunky material like wood chips, leaves, straw pine needles, free would be where you should start.

Thanks. I plan on doing deep bedding in the coop. No drainage problems, no neighbors, 12 chickens, run is currently over 80 sq ft but I plan on expanding it. I would like to have little maintenance.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Sand is ideal if it can be kept completely dry and gets scooped regularly.

Deep litter is better in wetter environments and if there's enough material in the run vs amount of poop going into it, it can be very low maintenance as it works as a in-place composting system. I personally would not use any shavings in deep litter as they tend to mat and retain water vs wood chips, but don't break down as quickly as dried leaves, for example.

 

[jreardon1918]

Thanks. I plan on doing deep bedding in the coop. No drainage problems, no neighbors, 12 chickens, run is currently over 80 sq ft but I plan on expanding it. I would like to have little maintenance.

If you are planning deep bedding in the coop, you might consider deep bedding in the run. We are a little east of you. Our run is wood chips, used shavings, cut grass (no fertilizer), fall leaves, garden waste. The run never needs cleaning. It just gets shoveled into the gardens.

 

[Devorah]

If you are planning deep bedding in the coop, you might consider deep bedding in the run. We are a little east of you. Our run is wood chips, used shavings, cut grass (no fertilizer), fall leaves, garden waste. The run never needs cleaning. It just gets shoveled into the gardens.

That is fascinating. Thanks! I already have an order in for wood chips … I didn’t think I could also dump used shavings in there, too! But that and the leaves and the garden waste make perfect sense. Where east are you?

 

[Justso]

I gave up on deep litter in the house, I'm not sure I believe the premise of it anymore. There are some good comments on byc that convinced me it doesn't work as intended. I provide wood shavings in the house and use free chunky wood shavings from local tree trimmers along with Leaf litter, grass shavings, and anything else organic. The house is cleaned out regularly, the outdoor run is really the deep litter method. It's really great how quickly material breaks down in there.

 

[Devorah]

I gave up on deep litter in the house, I'm not sure I believe the premise of it anymore. There are some good comments on byc that convinced me it doesn't work as intended. I provide wood shavings in the house and use free chunky wood shavings from local tree trimmers along with Leaf litter, grass shavings, and anything else organic. The house is cleaned out regularly, the outdoor run is really the deep litter method. It's really great how quickly material breaks down in there.

Thanks very much!

 

[jreardon1918]

That is fascinating. Thanks! I already have an order in for wood chips … I didn’t think I could also dump used shavings in there, too! But that and the leaves and the garden waste make perfect sense. Where east are you?

The coop spring cleaning happens soon. First we dig out some compost to go in the gardens. Then the pine shavings from the coop go in the run.

Close enough to Gillette to hear the crowds. The flyovers go right over the house.