Thoughts on uncovered coop run flooring?

[DobieLover]

I like this idea more and more. How is the smell and fly's? Keep in mind I only have 4 hens, my thought is it likely will not be that bad.

It composts. When you first put it down it smells like pine trees, at least mine does. The chickens love scratching around in it. It won't smell as long as it's mixed. Toss scratch in the run and let the girls mix it for you.

 

[micstrachan]

I agree you should stay far, far away from hay. My husband bought a hay bale for the bunnies and it go wet. There is an INCREDIBLE amount of mold. I relocated it with a pitchfork so the chickens would not scratch in it and I could see the mold spores flying through the air like dust. Nasty stuff.
Sadly, he just got a NEW bale... and it's out in the rain, along with two bales of straw. Not sure how I'm going to move this mess... they are heavy!

Wood chips is probably the way to go.

 

[muddy75]

Straw and hay tend to mat when wet and will mold heavily.

x2.....i just spent an entire weekend shoveling out 6 months of nasty straw buildup! I went to bare soil and sprinkled in large pine chips, crushed brick, and sand. I also spread a bit of sweet pdz weekly to help deodorize. can still get some muddy areas with heavy rain, but can now dry and drain properly. I can easily clean and add more material as necessary without all the backbreaking work. all my birds are loving it!!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I like this idea more and more. How is the smell and fly's? Keep in mind I only have 4 hens, my thought is it likely will not be that bad.

Mine smells much like compost at this point, not a fresh pile but like aged compost. If you manage it correctly it shouldn't smell bad.

Flies can be an issue regardless of what type of flooring material you choose. In the summer I put out fly traps, the disposable ones that they crawl in and drown. Rest of the year it's not an issue.

 

[aart]

In most cases you don't have to remove it. You just add to it.

I never 'clean' mine...just add to it.

 

[chickens really]

Hello...I use sand in all my Runs. My Runs are covered with tarps. I have a 10X10 Dog Run and Dog house from my Ducks. Sand is fantastic...Doesn't rot or stink..

 

[Relleoms]

My flock scratches holes into the mulch flooring, then when it rains or the snow melts, those holes fill up with water. But I just go out with a hard rake, fill them back in and we’re good to go!

 

[Chickenaddition]

What I suggest is pine chips or pine needles or a mix of both and then during the summers add in your grass clippings. All this allows the chickens to actively move and dig and mix. It will continue to break down in to compost but this keeps the smells down.

 

[sprede]

All these are great. Before I started this I was leaning towards sand but I think now the wood chips seems more ideal for my situation. I appreciate you all for responding to my post. This summer I will post my setup as you all would have played a part in it

 

[The Lazy L]

Sand. they can give themselves a "clean" dirt bath and a source of grit.

• The Lazy L
• Jul 17, 2012