What material for the ground in the run?

[Posh Chickens]

Okay, I have a 21 X 20 run, and I am extending it so its 40-50 X 20 What should I use on the floor, I was thinking bark, but I don't know if it will work... Will it?! I dunno about sand because it rains here 'all the time..'

 

[aggie9296]

The majority of people probably just use dirt for the run floor. You don't HAVE to add anything, unless you get wet spots that need raising. Some add sand. It dries pretty quick, especially if over a layer of pea gravel. Some use bark mulch or pine shavings. Seems kind of expensive to do all of that for a big run.

If you start out with grass, it will become dirt anyway once the chickens eat every drop of green in there.

 

[Posh Chickens]

Exactly, thats what they have done, I was going to use bark, and a square of DE/Sand so they can bath in it, they keep making 'dirt' crators in the ground... So is bark good though?

 

[aggie9296]

I would't use it due to expense. Plus my girls have a tractor for sleep and free range all day. My yard is mostly sand so they do have some corners dug out that they bathe in.

Here is one that uses bark mulch and she loves it. Looks pretty nice too. She also has a "salad bar" of grass too. She has a beautiful set up.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=482852

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

We put in this completely natural bark. It's fairly big chunks so it takes a while for the ladies to destroy it and the water drains off very well that way. We're also looking at putting in a 'salad bar' as we are expanding the run. Sod with a landscaping log boxing it in with wire over top of it. We're basically just looking at putting in the box and wire and letting the grass grow as it would anyway. Maybe add some clover seed...

 

[CoyoteMagic]

I have plain 'ol North Carolina red clay dirt! They dig holes in it. I fill it, they dig holes again.

 

[GiddyMoon]

bare earth

 

[dweder]

I can't say enough about how happy I am that I switched over to sand! I had to cubic yards delivered for a 20 x 12 foot run. It is soo easy to clean, bugs cant live in it and the water drains perfectly. I bought a kitty litter scooper and attached it to a mop handle. I just walk around the run and clean out the poop. Perfectly sterile enviroment now!