Sand vs. wood chips

[vistaviewblue]

Hi! we are renting two cherryeggers and coop this summer from our local “pop up polutry” program.

The coop/run is way too small for the ladies (Mabel and Martha)* so we decided to build them a run addition for the summer.

I need some advice on their setup. Based on our neighborhood guidelines, the coop is set next to our garage (which I just realized doesnt have gutters so its super wet) and cant be moved of we are in violation.

We added a roof to keep the rain out, so we have a old 1920s window over their run (vented). That tells you the size of their rented run :/

There is no grass under their soon to be new home either. what the heck do I use for an Illinois summer in a wet area. Hay? Woodchips? Sand?

I was leaning towards sand but the read the cons of them eating it, etc.

I need to do something fast and welcome any advice. My goal is to get them into their new run within a week.

I have no idea what I’m doing.

If you made it this far, I appreciate you hanging in there!

*they are named. we are keeping the ladies.

 

[OhioChickenKeeper]

I personally use a wood chip straw mix and it has been fine even in soaking wet areas

 

[snow5164]

I love sand and no problems for them eating it . I’ve had it for five years in my coop , spot cleaning daily and taking wet spots out. My run is full of the old sand ... easy to clean , they dust bathe in it ... wood moulds

 

[Belzarvie]

I use woodchips and straw, but that's because I live in a very dry area, and just the dirt in their run gets dust all in the air when they scratch at it. But as you said, you live in a much wetter area.
If you do end up using woodchips, I'd read around about the different kinds of wood used, some aren't too great for the chickies
Congrats on the new chickens though, I hope you like em!

 

[OhioChickenKeeper]

I’ve never had wood or straw mold as long as I take the wet spots out and replace it with dry straw or wood

 

[vistaviewblue]

I personally use a wood chip straw mix and it has been fine even in soaking wet areas

do you do a pretty even 50/50 split?

 

[vistaviewblue]

I love sand and no problems for them eating it . I’ve had it for five years in my coop , spot cleaning daily and taking wet spots out. My run is full of the old sand ... easy to clean , they dust bathe in it ... wood moulds

good to know. are you using construction sand?

 

[OhioChickenKeeper]

Not really I just randomly do it most the time I think I put more straw down

 

[vistaviewblue]

Not really I just randomly do it most the time I think I put more straw down

good to know!

 

[Ohmyheart]

I love sand in my run, I've been using it for a yr now. I use wood chips in the coop but have PDZ under the roost. We have a weird laws here that I need to clean daily. Sand in the run and PDZ in the coop make it very easy to clean. I also think it rains here a lot so the sand drains and stays easy to clean.