What is a good thing to put in the RUN???

[BackSwampGirl]

I have some Beautiful White Silkies.They are on Dirt Run w/some grass growing in pen.But the feet get so dirty.I am used to walking on it to feed them and water them.But I feel like they need something besides dirt and some shavings.Any suggestions,Thanks Sandra

 

[Birdlife99]

Hi Sandra
I would not worry about the dirty feet, but if you feel they need something to keep them cleaner try to remove poop as often as possible and maybe put an extra layer of wood shavings to cover the remaining floor of the coop. Having grass in your coop is a good thing too, as they can eat the grass and it would be a better covering than dirt.
I hope this helps

 

[JNB]

My runs have dirt floors also. In the summer they are wonderful. In the winter I add Straw to the run. It keeps the mud in check and gives the hens a clean surface to walk on. They also enjoy scratching thru the straw for bugs. They dont eat it because it is straw and has no greenery. I have 12 hens and a run that is 20 feet long and 8 feet wide. I like to keep it really dry in the run so on average I use about 3/4 bale of straw a month in the winter. It depends on how much rain we get.

I have a friend that has a Silkie Coop... she uses sand in her coop and then pooper scoops it each day. She loves that it stays dry because the sand has good drainage and her birds stay clean

 

[7L Farm]

Sand in the summer & I add leaves in the winter.

 

[terryg]

White silkies are always going to have dirty feet But, do add bags of builder's sand (it's inexpensive and found and any building supply store.) It will help with drainage. Also, give your girls some low roosts so they can get up and out of the damp.