What to do until grass is gone?

[path.otto]

Hi, all.

Fall is just around the corner and this week we were surprised by a hawk attacking a rabbit not 50 feet away from the screened porch where we were eating. I heard the commotion and fearful it was the chooks I tore out the door. The hawk flew away and we had to finish the job it started. Don't care for rabbits, but still....

Made me wonder if the hawk was hanging around because he saw my chickens out in their fenced area and decided we needed to get ready for winter this fall!

My question, and I do have one, is how do you maintain a run before the grass is gone? I have 8 juveniles, 3 are near layers and 5 are about 4-6 weeks younger. They are moved from place to place now and the grass gets really yuckky. I don't try to clean it I just move the coops from place to place every few days and mother nature takes care of the rest. Within 2-3 weeks you would never know there had been a chicken there.

We have a 9 x 9 stationary run that the runs on the coops hook up to. How do I keep it mostly free of poop and control odor while I'm waiting for the point I can add sand or something similar?

I feel somewhat like an idiot having to ask this but I would really appreciate any insights. Thanks!

 

[rjohns39]

What are you planning on putting in your run when the grass is gone? I would think you can put it down now, any blades of grass that do come through will likely be enjoyed by the birds.

 

[path.otto]

Thanks @rjohn39. So many people talk about using sand that I am considering that. My husband is skeptical because he thinks it will freeze in the winter. We live in Northern Iowa and it can get very cold and snowy.

 

[rjohns39]

I use a greenhouse with deep bedding for my winter home. I use a mix of sawdust, pine shavings, hay and straw. I feed them hay in the winter, they'll eat some and make nests out of the rest. I use straw primarily for my ducks as they put water everywhere. I don't know of any bedding material that would not freeze in your environment. Sorry...

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

I have a new run and the grass lasted about four days. Since then, I have added pine shavings, one 60 pound bag of builder's sand to even things out a bit, and PDZ. The run is 10 x 20 and has good drainage. I add a big scoop of PDZ every week, sprinkling it around, putting extra on any moist poop. I will swear there is no stink whatsoever.
Heck, I sit in there in the evenings with a glass of wine and a BO on my lap. No, the wine would not negate any stink, lol. I guess the fact that I only have six girls makes it less likely to be stinky too.
The pine shavings are decomposing into a soft brown fluffy material, nice underfoot.
I am new at this but pretty pleased so far at the aroma (or lack thereof) in the run.
I imagine stuff would freeze in the winter but I'm not sure if anything can be done about that. Neighbors down the road use straw in the winter in their run---I might try that.

 

[rjohns39]

I have a new run and the grass lasted about four days. Since then, I have added pine shavings, one 60 pound bag of builder's sand to even things out a bit, and PDZ. The run is 10 x 20 and has good drainage. I add a big scoop of PDZ every week, sprinkling it around, putting extra on any moist poop. I will swear there is no stink whatsoever.
Heck, I sit in there in the evenings with a glass of wine and a BO on my lap. No, the wine would not negate any stink, lol. I guess the fact that I only have six girls makes it less likely to be stinky too.
The pine shavings are decomposing into a soft brown fluffy material, nice underfoot.
I am new at this but pretty pleased so far at the aroma (or lack thereof) in the run.
I imagine stuff would freeze in the winter but I'm not sure if anything can be done about that. Neighbors down the road use straw in the winter in their run---I might try that.

As long as you have enough accessible carbon, you'll never smell anything.

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

As long as you have enough accessible carbon, you'll never smell anything.

Or enough wine....

 

[rjohns39]

Or enough wine....

 

[path.otto]

NancyNurse,

I'm trying to figure out your user name, are you labor and delivery or a CNM? It's like license plates, I love to figure them out!

We are kindred spirits, I love to take a glass of wine and just sit with the girls. Sometimes the BR or BO will roost on the arm of the chair and try to peck at whatever they can reach, so it isn't because they are so peaceful - its because they are so hysterical to watch!

I only have 8 and they don't denude the grass in their tractor runs so I'm concerned it may take awhile in the 10x10 run, but yours is twice as large so we will see. If they don't, I will just try to rake out what I can and sprinkle in some PDZ.

I'm thinking about adding PDZ in the litter tray with the pine shavings I use now. I clean that out once a week. I got a sample of something similar, Espoma Sani-Care, although this is actually used as bedding for horses and PDZ is more of a spot solution for horses.

Anyway, thanks for your suggestions. I'm not sure how I feel about straw, I've heard a lot of negatives in the reading I've done on here, but then some really love it.

 

[path.otto]

LOL! I'm thinking medicine on a chicken forum! Cx = Cornish X?

What do you expect from a newbie?