Sand, pine shavings, wood chips....oh my!

[mamadawn]

I love using sand in my main coop and run. It's about 4x12 and in a covered area (no wind or rain). I use a thin layer of Sweet PDZ Granulates under the sand for a clumping effect and nice on the nose... First thing in the morning I scoop with a cat litter scoop and a small mesh tray- sooo easy and clean.
My nesting boxes have straw in them. I know when the girls have visited them by the tell tail straw on the sand which I just scoop up with my morning chores.
My PVC feeder is amazing and there is no spillage at all, so keeping the sand floor clean and no spilled food - no flys
I use a Brite Tap watering system which is also very clean also works great with the sand...
I do have a long Chunnel and a second run with a dirt floor where I throw kitchen scraps and they love to scratch in the dirt for yummy bugs

 

[kbrown927]

Hi! I'm another chicken newbie! Isn't it fun??

We built our run using cinder blocks as a "border" around the run. It keeps the wood chips in and provides a shelf that we built on. I do deep litter with Pine shavings - like you use with horses. I "fluff" every other day with a hoe and add a bag of shavings as they settle and disintegrate. This helps keep it dry, which is key. I also toss in about 1
Cup of "scratch" every 3-4 days. They love searching for it and fluff the shavings for me!

Working great. No smell and easy!! My run is 4x8 for six girls with an attached outdoor run that they can only access when I'm present. We have too many predators!

Good luck!

 

[mamadawn]

I've read that straw can be harmful to them if swallowed.  Not the case??  I'm glad you said, "It's hours and hours of fun...".  I've been wanting to get something in the pen so they're not bored.  Suggestions for "toys"?  Can I go to the pet store and grab some of those wooden bird toys they have?  I've heard mirrors are fun for them, too. 

I'm gonna try a swing soon.
I've done cabbage- I cored a hole through the middle and hung with a chain from the top of my coop, that was real fun... I've used one of my kids 5" balls with holes in it and filled it with broccoli- the girls had some busy work...

I also made a frozen bowl of layered meal worms, blueberries, frozen watermelon and chia. After freezing I popped it out of the bowl and they had a great time as it melted!

hmmmm I think if have a food theme going here...