What to put down in a chicken run?

[avery_pittman05]

What could I put in my chicken run to prevent the ground from just becoming dirt and becoming nasty? Such as things like (hay, shavings, mulch, etc?).

 

[RainbowHen]

Wood chips work well

 

[piminuse]

Firstly, is your run covered? And what climate do you live in?

If you want good irrigation, then sand or very deep litter can be good options. Lots of folks do fine with just dirt and regular raking to keep it clean. Mulch and bark chips are other contenders. I toss in any yard debris (sticks, leaves, pine needles) as it gives the chickens something to do and can be used as compost later on.

 

[DesertGrrl]

No wood chips. It can cause injuries to their feet.

I put hay down in the run.

 

[DobieLover]

No wood chips. It can cause injuries to their feet.

I put hay down in the run.

Completely untrue!
Hay in an uncovered run tends to mat and mold when it gets wet.

I've used nothing but a thick layer of wood chips in my run since day one and have never had a single foot injury.

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm partial to deep litter and I believe that the best option is a mixture of materials -- wood chips, wood shavings, straw, pine straw, fall leaves, and whatever other dry organic material comes to hand.

This creates a composting system that digest the poop. If you get a good balance of litter to poop the system is nearly maintenance-free and I never had an odor issue that couldn't be solved with another 3-4 inches of dry material.

 

[avery_pittman05]

Firstly, is your run covered? And what climate do you live in?

If you want good irrigation, then sand or very deep litter can be good options. Lots of folks do fine with just dirt and regular raking to keep it clean. Mulch and bark chips are other contenders. I toss in any yard debris (sticks, leaves, pine needles) as it gives the chickens something to do and can be used as compost later on.

My run is covered with entirely with chicken wire, it’s does not have a roof on top to cover it. The climate where I live is more humid and subtropical climate.

 

[avery_pittman05]

I'm partial to deep litter and I believe that the best option is a mixture of materials -- wood chips, wood shavings, straw, pine straw, fall leaves, and whatever other dry organic material comes to hand.

This creates a composting system that digest the poop. If you get a good balance of litter to poop the system is nearly maintenance-free and I never had an odor issue that couldn't be solved with another 3-4 inches of dry material.

This seems to be a popular answer, and most likely what I will go with. Thank you!

 

[piminuse]

My run is covered with entirely with chicken wire, it’s does not have a roof on top to cover it. The climate where I live is more humid and subtropical climate.

I would recommend covering at least a portion of the run with tarp/canvas/plywood just to give them cover from sun or rain.

Deep litter is pretty popular, it's cheap and it's great for the garden. My birds love it!

 

[little blue coop]

I also have a question about what to put in the chicken run. I'm a first time chicken owner of 5 beautiful Rhode Island Reds. The run is 10' x 8', with 4' metal roof the length of the run. 4' of the run is a slanted out from the metal roof, if you can picture it. They also have a 4' x 4' area under the coop that is enclosed on three sides. Currently there is sand in the run, and I love how easy it is to clean with a kitty litter scoop. But I live in the mountains in NE PA, so winter is coming. I've read different things about sand in winter. The sides of the run will be covered in plastic, with the door end open to the air. No moisture will get in because of the predominant direction of the wind in our location.
Will my chickens' feet be ok with the sand? I have access to a seemingly unending supply of leaves, but then I don't know how to keep the run clean. I don't know how I feel about the deep litter system. In the spring the plastic on the walls will be removed, so rain will get into a portion of the run, and I think I would like to have sand because it drains well.
I will appreciate any suggestions. Also, if anyone has had experience with sand in the run over the winter that they could share with me.