Straw in the run now or wait?

[kraftykrow]

New to chickening (if you haven't seen any of my previous threads). I have 3 barred rocks in 132 sq feet. They've been pecking and scratching happily about the grass, yet it hasn't started to die out yet. I bought a few bays of straw to lay out in the run, but I didn't know if I should just wait til the grass is pecked over. Would it be a waste of money to put it all down when its not needed yet? Would they just be happier to have straw to scratch? Thanks for any input!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

That's up to you, some grass may grow underneath the straw, hard to know.
You could always put one intact straw bale in the run for them to get on, scratch, etc.
Mine will pick at a bale, get on top of it and lounge, scratch the top to get at little bits of seeds - whatever is in there. 1 bale opened is quite a bit if it's a normal bale, so I would only open 1 at a time. Keep the others in dry place to help keep them from molding.

Oh, is your run covered or uncovered? That might make a difference. If it's uncovered, then I would probably on put a 1/4 to 1/2 bale in there, it will get all mucky eventually and it's heavy to remove if it's deep.

 

[Gray Farms]

I personally don't recommend straw in the coop or outside. Straw retains moisture. So if not cleaned out regularly inside it can promote mold growth. And in the run it can drastically slow the mud from drying after rains.

 

[kraftykrow]

That's up to you, some grass may grow underneath the straw, hard to know.
You could always put one intact straw bale in the run for them to get on, scratch, etc.
Mine will pick at a bale, get on top of it and lounge, scratch the top to get at little bits of seeds - whatever is in there. 1 bale opened is quite a bit if it's a normal bale, so I would only open 1 at a time. Keep the others in dry place to help keep them from molding.

Oh, is your run covered or uncovered? That might make a difference. If it's uncovered, then I would probably on put a 1/4 to 1/2 bale in there, it will get all mucky eventually and it's heavy to remove if it's deep.

Part of it is covered and the other is only covered with wire. They haven't really be keen to jump up on things yet besides the roost in the coop. I have secured boards and branches and stumps in the run and haven't seen them hop up on anything. Idk if they'd get on a bale or not lol

 

[getaclue]

Hay is a better choice if you decide to use it.

 

[aart]

Let them tear up the grass....then wood chippings is the best main bedding base IMO.

My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'd let them tear up the grass first, they'll enjoy doing so. Once the grass is pretty much destroyed you can start adding the litter material of your choice.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

I'd let them tear up the grass first, they'll enjoy doing so. Once the grass is pretty much destroyed you can start adding the litter material of your choice.

+1

The natural grass goes fast, so might as well let them enjoy it. Nothing green has grown in my run in 3+ years.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Part of it is covered and the other is only covered with wire. They haven't really be keen to jump up on things yet besides the roost in the coop. I have secured boards and branches and stumps in the run and haven't seen them hop up on anything. Idk if they'd get on a bale or not lol

I see, I would leave the uncovered portion bare, maybe add some leaves, wood chips or pine needles in there once the grass is gone.
The covered portion, I might add straw.

Most all of mine is covered, so straw works well and stays fairly dry.

 

[kraftykrow]

I see, I would leave the uncovered portion bare, maybe add some leaves, wood chips or pine needles in there once the grass is gone.
The covered portion, I might add straw.

Most all of mine is covered, so straw works well and stays fairly dry.

That's kinda what I was thinking. The grass around the front part of the covered run is where they hang out the most. Coming in and out of coop and peaking at the hanging cabbage, so poop and them beating down the grass is started to make it messy. Perhaps straw will help