Sand, woodchips, topsoil, oh my!

[ukcatsgrl21]

I am new to chickens and have wire on the bottom of my run. In retrospect, the wire apron may be better. However, I haven’t had any issues with wire on the bottom so far. I put a lot of River/rock/sand mix (from Menards or Lowes) in mine. Yes, they dig it up but when I see it getting close to the bottom I just rake it up. I have extra bags on hand to add occasionally as well. Mine do a lot of free ranging so this isn’t an issue - but I’m not worried the days they stay in the run either. I live on a lake and mink, weasels and muskrats can dig so I felt like this was the best protection at the time. I may also add the apron tho - great idea! Good luck! One thing I’ve noticed is everyone does things a little different. We learn as we go. I can honestly say that I stressed way to much and have come to the point where I do the best I can and learn from my mistakes. Sometimes it’s just trial and error. I love my little ladies - they are so fun, enjoy!!

Hi! Do you have the link to the sand you bought from lowes or Menards? There's so many choices I wanted to make sure I got the correct thing.

 

[MaAker]

Hi! Do you have the link to the sand you bought from lowes or Menards? There's so many choices I wanted to make sure I got the correct thing.

It’s called Traction, Grit and Fill. I only use it in the run. I purchased it at Menards. . You can kind of see how it looks with the pic of the chickens outside of the run. Hop this helps!

 

[ukcatsgrl21]

It’s called Traction, Grit and Fill. I only use it in the run. I purchased it at Menards. . You can kind of see how it looks with the pic of the chickens outside of the run. Hop this helps!

Thank you! Do you have this directly on top of the hardware cloth? And is the hardware cloth directly on the ground? How much maintenance is needed?

I originally had weed cloth down then hardware cloth and was planning on doing like 2 inches of pea gravel then 4 inches of sand but I'm hearing horror stories now.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

I'm a total noob, but I've done hundreds of hours of research on litter types. What I've gathered: If you're going to use sand in your coop or run (which is a very good, well-researched option), please DO NOT use play sand. It is too fine, it can cause crop impaction, it does not dry well when it gets wet (moist litter = bad), and the dust from dry play sand can cause a whole host of respiratory issues (for chickens and humans). From everything I've read, one should use medium to course grain construction sand. It will have larger bits and less fine grains (and its not made from crushed quartz).

Here's some links:
https://www.thefeatherbrain.com/blog/sand-chicken-coop-bedding

https://www.thefeatherbrain.com/blog/best-chicken-coop-bedding

https://the-chicken-chick.com/chicken-coop-bedding-sand-litter/

Good luck!

 

[MaAker]

Thank you! Do you have this directly on top of the hardware cloth? And is the hardware cloth directly on the ground? How much maintenance is needed?

I originally had weed cloth down then hardware cloth and was planning on doing like 2 inches of pea gravel then 4 inches of sand but I'm hearing horror stories now.

 

[MaAker]

I did not use weed cloth - the chickens will like it if some grass or greens grow - but it’s not likely they would last long anyways, they will scratch it out. I put the gravel mix down directly on top of the hardware cloth. I would guess around 4-6 inches. Then I just fill as needed. I rake/stir it up once or twice a week just to mix it. It seems to dry fast and drain well. I live northern MN and the soil I have my run on drains pretty quick (which is lucky for MN). I may add pine shavings on top for the winter months - so they have more insulation in the run. This will be my first winter with chickens it’s all trial and error for me. I have a few chicken friends who all do things differently. I’ll find my way and you will too!!

 

[MaAker]

I'm a total noob, but I've done hundreds of hours of research on litter types. What I've gathered: If you're going to use sand in your coop or run (which is a very good, well-researched option), please DO NOT use play sand. It is too fine, it can cause crop impaction, it does not dry well when it gets wet (moist litter = bad), and the dust from dry play sand can cause a whole host of respiratory issues (for chickens and humans). From everything I've read, one should use medium to course grain construction sand. It will have larger bits and less fine grains (and its not made from crushed quartz).

Here's some links:
https://www.thefeatherbrain.com/blog/sand-chicken-coop-bedding

https://www.thefeatherbrain.com/blog/best-chicken-coop-bedding

https://the-chicken-chick.com/chicken-coop-bedding-sand-litter/

Good luck!

Agree 100%! I live on a lake and have a sand beach - the chickens choose the dirt over the sand all the time! I’ve never actually seen them go in the sand - I’ve tried and they always go for the dirt. . Sand will stay too wet, not good.

 

[Jada22]

This might not be helpful right now but planting things like sunflowers, mustard greens, wheat can detoxify your soil. They will “eat” the lead. You do need to dispose of the plants afterwards. But this is an option if you want to eventually have soil in your run you could buy topsoil and plant in it to remove the lead. You can also do this in other parts of your garden to help with removing the lead. But as I said those plants then need to be destroyed so they need to go in the rubbish bin, be burnt or put somewhere lead isn’t an issue, if the plants were decomposed they will add lead back into the soil. However I don’t think it would be an issue to collect the seeds from them and re plant.

 

[KappyFlock]

I didn't add my apron until the run was fully constructed so this is confusing to me. If wire is "under" the run it should be accessible on the interior edge if you dig down to it and could be snipped out.
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You don't. The chickens dig around in the run litter and the poop cold composts and everything slowly breaks down. You can harvest some of it for gardening.
I've never removed anything from the run. I just add more woodchips as needed.

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This looks nice and easy! We have two-week old chicks who are confined to the coop (brooder) for now, and we need to finish the attached run. Thank you for the pictures of the hardware cloth coming down the side and skimming the top of the grass. We were going to bury the "horizontal" part of the hardware cloth with dirt, but if we had more large rocks or pavers we could do it your way.

Really my main question is about the run flooring. It isn't in a super low area of the yard, but it isn't on high ground either. We were considering putting gravel at the bottom of the run, then landscape fabric, then dirt, then whatever else the chickens would like (wood chips I guess). But 1) that sounds complicated and 2) I don't think we have that much depth. Let me explain. My husband doesn't want the stuff (dirt, wood chips, whatever) to be high enough to rest against the vertical posts that frame the run because they'll (rot? wear away? I don't know and he isn't right here to ask). So we have only 8" total for gravel, landscape fabric, dirt, wood chips. From what I've read, that won't work.

Can we just leave the floor of the run as-is, which is just the clay-ish dirt and sparse weeds in the yard, and pour some loose dirt and wood chips on top of it? If it gets soggy, we just keep pouring more wood chips onto it? And occasionally add whatever yard materials like grass clippings and leaves and twigs we feel like throwing in there?

I like this idea because it's simple, we have access to free wood chips, and will give us compost for the garden.

I feel as if we need to make the right decision now, because once we "create" the floor of the run, there's no going back. Or going back would be a lot of work.

 

[aart]

that sounds complicated

Yep.... and not a good idea.

we have access to free wood chips

The kind taht comes form chipping up trimmed tree branches?
Can you store a big pile of them...to let them age and move an inch or two into the run as needed??