What to use on floor of coop and run?

[jeannius]

Hi everyone,
This is my first shot at raising chickens in my backyard. They have a nice coop and run is being built. I am undecided as to what I should use on floor of coop and run. I had my mind made to use sand but then read that's a very bad idea. Right now its just grass but know as soon as chickens get out there the grass will disappear and I don't want a muddy mess! Any suggestions? What does everyone else use?

 

[so lucky]

People choose different things for different reasons. I am presently using wood shavings in the coop, and mixed weeds, brush, straw, etc in the run. Weeds were thick in the run till I put the chicks in there. It took them about a week to strip it of every sprig of green. I'll probably dump the wood shavings into the run when they get a little dirtier.
In the past I have used straw in the coop, but several sources I have found say hay is better.

If you have a large run, it might be interesting to block off half, and rotate the chickens about every 4 days or so. You might be able to keep it green on both sides.

 

[jeannius]

People choose different things for different reasons. I am presently using wood shavings in the coop, and mixed weeds, brush, straw, etc in the run. Weeds were thick in the run till I put the chicks in there. It took them about a week to strip it of every sprig of green. I'll probably dump the wood shavings into the run when they get a little dirtier.
In the past I have used straw in the coop, but several sources I have found say hay is better.

If you have a large run, it might be interesting to block off half, and rotate the chickens about every 4 days or so. You might be able to keep it green on both sides.

Thanks for the info! My chickens are just over a month old so I have a little bit of time to decide!

 

[wvchickenchick311]

I’m so glad you have decided to get chickens! I love them so so so much!

I use wood shavings in their house and sand in their coop.

The sand only works if your run have a nice roof (tarp,or other roof like structures).

If you don’t add a roof to it it will be a muddy mess anyway.

I like the sand option because they can eat it if they want as gritt.

I still use gritt and oyster shell though because mine don’t eat it very often.

I wouldn’t put sand near their water if it’s not a hanging waterer
Because they will kick it in their water.

If it is hanging that’s fine you can put it anywhere you like.

I hope this helps you!

 

[rosemarythyme]

It depends on a lot of factors, from what you have readily available to you, to the style of coop and run, to your climate and soil drainage.

I use deep litter in the run, deep bedding in the coop, using a base of aged, chunky wood chips chipped from our own branches. The run litter additionally has dried leaves, grass clippings and garden trimmings. So no cost to me and since our soil has good drainage, the chips allow rain water to drain through into the soil below, so the run no longer gets muddy or puddly even during rain storms.

 

[PotatoHead]

I second the deep litter method! I use it both in my coop and run. It’s the only way to go IMHO.

 

[aart]

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.

-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.

-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.

-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.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO...see pic below.

-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 5 years.




Oh, and....Welcome to BYC! @jeannius
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