What is the best material to put a chicken run? Pea Gravel? Dirt?

[kellgirl360]

So I will be getting chickens next Feb, and I already have a 5' by 10' dog kennel to use as a chicken run. I need to know what the best material to put in the run would be. I have a part of my yard that used to be a playground and is all pea gravel, and I have grass in the rest. I won't be moving the run, by the way.
I need to make sure it is

-low low cost
-not really smelly
-easy to maintain
- I cant have the material all over the yard

Would it be best do just put it on grass or just on pea gravel? Maybe hay or sand?

Thanks!

 

[jetdog]

The grass won't last long they will eat it all in no time. I used sand in my covered run and love it, very easy to clean with a cat litter scoop and a rake, never gets muddy and never smells, I clean it every Saturday and it takes about 10 minutes the run is 10x10. I used a course sand like mason sand. They love dusting and it provides all the grit they need.

 

[kellgirl360]

That sounds like a really good product. Is it very dusty? Can you buy it at a nursery or home depot?
Thanks alot!

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

That sounds like a really good product. Is it very dusty? Can you buy it at a nursery or home depot?
Thanks alot!

You'd be better off to buy a truckload.
Any building supply or landscape business should have it
Putting about 6" of sand on top of the gravel would be ideal

 

[bellschick]

Has anyone ever put sawdust in a coop? Good idea or bad....and why?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Sawdust can work if it's not too fine,
It can be VERY dusty if it's powdery