what do i put on the ground in run

[bpd73]

i have a question about my run. the cickens have eatin all the grass on the ground and now it is just dirt. it has been raining alot here and they have to stand in the mud if they get out of the coop. what can i put on the ground so the dont have to be in the mud when it rains?

 

[suburbanhomesteader]

Do you live in North Texas? I can sure second the rain issue!

I've thrown in some shredded leaves I had left over from the fall, which I was going to put in my garden. I'm also considering ways to seed it (with buckwheat, maybe?) and protect it for the couple of weeks it will take for the buckwheat to grow a couple of inches.

I do not plan to add sand; sand + clay = brick during hotter, drier times.

I'm looking forward to hearing some more answers!

 

[TreyClark281]

thick layer of wood chips or straw?

 

[suburbanhomesteader]

if you look at photos of Mudhen's and AlanRanch's runs, you will see that they appear to be bare earth.

 

[AccidentalFarm]

Quote:
We are in the midst of a major coop/yard rebuild and will be adding a contraption to do just that. We're making a pvc frame and will stretch some chicken wire, or hardware cloth- not sure yet which- over it. Before the ground gets picked entirely clean, we will lay the wire covered frame out on the ground, set on cinder blocks, (or it's own feet if we decide to build some into the frame). That way the chickens can still walk over it (and 'fertilize' the grass below) if they want, but they won't be able to pick at the grass growing beneath it. Being made of pvc, it will be light enough to move around the yard easily- we plan to keep at least 1/4 of the yard covered at all times. This is the only thing I could think of to do that would allow the birds to keep their entire yard space all the time.

I'll post pics once we have one built and in place.

 

[wendy]

Quote:
Hi bpd73,
Texas has gotten alot of rain! I know what you mean with all the grass gone, our 9 little girls and 1 rooster at all the grass in our 18x20 pen in less than two or three weeks! But luckly it drains very well.
How about scattering some hay? The leaves idea is good too. I don't know how big your area is but I have several bird feeders and with the rain we have had the bird seed on the grown grows these little sprouts of "grass" in as fast as a few days. I hope this is helpful.

 

[tiffanyh]

The only down side of hay-IMHO- is that later when you need to clean it out, the hay can be difficult to shovel out. That is the only reason I prefer wood shavings...

 

[merryreader]

Hay is easily removed with a pitch fork, which is what I use. They love to scratch through hay and leaves. Also bugs tend to get under this and they get alot of them. Merry

 

[tiffanyh]

Ya, I know---its just heavier....I just prefer the shavings.

 

[ELLY1]

Hi im from the uk my 2 chickens ( we will be getting 4 more soon) have a shed 6x4 to sleep in then on the side is a run 4x4 and a pop hole from the shed to a 14x14 out side run is this ok for 6 chickens or even 8, on the shed floor which is wood i put wood shaving on. The small run is on concret should i put shavings on this too.The large run is dirt and they love that, also what can i put in there to keep them happy.Does any one else sleep or dont sleep thinking about chickens I just love them my family think im mad as i talk about them all the time and sit the the run with them and talk to them, I never thought having chickens would be this great.