So confused.....

[Ackchickens]

I bought a pre made coop, the bungalow, from my pet chicken. What a crock, no way 6 chickens could live in there. But we are using if for now while the pullets are still growing. Right now I have a 10x10 chain link fence with netting around and over it. (Lucky to live on an island with very very few predators) The coop is so small we actually just put it in the run. In trying to make final decisions for the real coop we are going to be building, I have a few questions that have come up while reading other threads. First time chicken mom, so sorry if I sound like an idiot. Why are there threads about sand, or other materials in the run? I was just going to leave the dirt that is there after the chickens finish off all the grass (they've only been out there a few weeks and haven't destroyed it all yet.) Do I need to put something else in the run? I've visited a lot of properties where people have back yard chickens and have never seen anything other than dirt.
Next, in the coop, I was originally planning the coop floor to be covered in a sand/sweet PDZ mixture, straight PDZ in the poop tray, and was going to use straw in the nesting boxes. However, I live in the north east and winters do get cold. I've seen lots of posts of the sand being too cold in the winter, and without deep litter the whole coop would be too cold? Should I plan on having something else for the floor of the coop?
Thanks in advance for any and all help.

 

[kmartinez]

My coop is 10 x 10 walk in floor has pine shavings and straw mix, mostly pine shavings. Normally straw gets on the floor of the coop when i redo the nesting boxes. I sprinkle my whole coop and roost with DE and also Sweet PDZ. My run i let the chicken beat down to dirt it took them a week LOL I added topsoil to low areas. I put straw in my run just to cover the ground. I am sure it is not necessary but it makes good composting material

 

[rgunn1]

My current run floor was reduced to mud. I added pine shavings primarily so they wouldn't be standing in mud all day, but it really helped cut down on the stink. They seem to enjoy scratching at it as well.

 

[ChickenMammX4]

What works best for a run floor depends on so many factors...weather, soil type, is the run covered, open air, number of chickens, etc.

Our run is covered so it stays relatively dry. The floor is dirt with straw and grass trimmings. In the fall I'll add leaves. The chickens (6) keep it turned. There is no odor. Even though the run is covered, our soil is boot-sucking, slimy clay and any rain that does get to it takes a long time to dry out. It would be a mud pit if it was just dirt. The poop dries and disappears

I didn't want sand because our winters are cold and any moisture will freeze it. I also didn't want to have to sift the sand.

You just have to figure out what works best in your situation.