What to use on floor in newly roofed chicken run

[penkwolf]

Hi,

I am just in the process of putting a roof on my chicken run after it keeps turning into a mud bath. Its about 12foot long and 8foot wide.

Once the roof is up i am going to leave it for a bit to dry out as it is so muddy.

I am just wondering what people use on the floor in a roofed chicken run? Do i just leave it as mud? Do i put wood chippings or will they start smelling? Sawdust?

Any ideas from experience would be great.

Thanks,

 

[CluckerFamily]

The floor of my run is made of dirt but it is higher than the ground outside (I built my run on top of concrete blocks). I put straw, leaves, and grass in the run once in a while and at different times.

 

[jreardon1918]

Your location might help. But we have used wood chips, pine shavings, grass clippings, yard waste.straw. We are going for a forest floor effect. Even in the coldest of the winter they can still scratch.

 

[3KillerBs]

Any kind of dry organic material that comes readily to hand will work as litter in the run.

Wood chips, wood shavings, straw, pine straw, leaves ....

IMO, the best is to use a mix of materials and textures to reduce packing, matting, and the creation of anaerobic pockets.

 

[aart]

Do i put wood chippings or will they start smelling?

Coarse wood chipping are the best at reducing odors.
Works well here and I don't have a roofed run, but do have good drainage.
My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.

 

[penkwolf]

Thank you everyone. I think wood chippings will be best on top of the current mud once it has dried out. We are in England so we get lots of rain!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Where I live now has much wetter winters than what I'm used to. And where I have my run isn't great (the land slopes downward, and the run is next to a retaining wall that drains towards the run). It's temporary, though. What I've found is that the wood chips do great, as do leaves and pine shavings. I'd skip hay or straw because it just seems to get caked in the mud here. Just from my experience. Your mileage may vary.

 

[aart]

I think wood chippings will be best on top of the current mud once it has dried out.

No need to wait....unless you need to do some drainage work first.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

Where I live now has much wetter winters than what I'm used to. And where I have my run isn't great (the land slopes downward, and the run is next to a retaining wall that drains towards the run). It's temporary, though. What I've found is that the wood chips do great, as do leaves and pine shavings. I'd skip hay or straw because it just seems to get caked in the mud here. Just from my experience. Your mileage may vary.

Straw and hay both make a slick, slimy (and often stinky) mess! (At least when used alone.)

 

[Aunt Angus]

Straw and hay both make a slick, slimy (and often stinky) mess! (At least when used alone.)

WORD.