What should I put in my run. Sand/mud/shavings

[We-love-chickens]

Hi what is the best floor covering for a covered run. Not sure wether to use sharp sand/leave it as mud or put down some shavings.
Thanks.

 

[DobieLover]

Hi what is the best floor covering for a covered run. Not sure wether to use sharp sand/leave it as mud or put down some shavings.
Thanks.

Do you have access to wood chips?

 

[We-love-chickens]

Do you have access to wood chips?

I could have access to anything really.
what sort of wood hips are best.
thanks for the reply

 

[RumneyRoost]

I see that you’re in the UK? I’m guessing that means that you’re environment is fairly wet.
I would make sure that your run drains really well. This could mean putting your run on a grade, or putting down a base of gravel and sand with wood chips over top.
I use natural wood chips. Don’t use any that have been dyed, and don’t use cedar chips.

 

[We-love-chickens]

I see that you’re in the UK? I’m guessing that means that you’re environment is fairly wet.
I would make sure that your run drains really well. This could mean putting your run on a grade, or putting down a base of gravel and sand with wood chips over top.
I use natural wood chips. Don’t use any that have been dyed, and don’t use cedar chips.

Thank you for the reply.i am in the uk. The base that the run is going on is a very slight slope already which I was going to keep. I had planned on gravel underneath about 6" deep then a layer of sharp sand about 3" deep then something over the top but wasn't too sure what. I did wonder about wood chips just not sure about which ones. Thanks for the info.

 

[aart]

How big is your run?
Dimensions and pics would help here.
How many birds?

I had planned on gravel underneath about 6" deep then a layer of sharp sand about 3" deep then something over the top but wasn't too sure what.

Probably no need for gravel and sand.

I did wonder about wood chips just not sure about which ones.

Big ones!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Best chips would be any wood except perhaps black walnut, cut in different sizes like aart's photo, and aged to reduce the chance of harmful mold/fungus blooms.

 

[JoePa]

I don’t know about wood chips - I use them in my garden and if I leave a pile laying around for awhile it ends up with fungus growing on it - I put sand down on the ground with some wood ashes sprinkled in a small spot for dusting

 

[aart]

I don’t know about wood chips - I use them in my garden and if I leave a pile laying around for awhile it ends up with fungus growing on it

Where do you have it stored?
Got pics of the 'fungus'?
Am curious.
That's why most suggest they be 'aged' as there are a plethora of organisms growing on tree bark, and when you grind them up with a bunch of green leaves and pile them up...it can decidedly become a perfect petri dish bonanza of growth.

 

[blackdog043]

Probably no need for gravel and sand.

X 2 Probably no need for sand and gravel.

Your run is on a slight slop which will help with water run off , unless you have a lot of water running toward your run. If that's the case, you could divert the water so it goes around the run.

Natural wood chips like @aarts picture work well. I use chips, leaves and yard/ garden waste. My run is on a slight slop as well, I don't have a problem with standing water or a muddy run, with my set up.

This is a picture after adding yard and garden waste, the chickens have a good time scratching through it.