When grass is gone in run.

[dstump54]

My chickens have eaten and dug up all the grass in there run. What should I put down now in there? Is mostly dirt now. Wood shavings? Or just leave it?

 

[Eggcessive]

Sand works if you have some free from a creek, wood shavings, tree bark. Some people take the old pine shavings from the coop and throw it out in the run when they put down fresh ones.

 

[dstump54]

Ok thank you. I have fresh ground pine shavings that I think are too wet to put in coop. Probably put them in run.

 

[Hokum Coco]

I have a bag now on my mower and I empty the grass clippings in the run with the birds. They actually eat pick and stir the clippings around and it forms compost. Also worms are attracted to the area as well.

 

[coberdor]

Have you considered a living greens area?

Here is a YouTube link on how to make one. Great idea if you can't let them free range.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzSKcj481pc

 

[vicki5112]

I actually had the same question. I thought about straw, but I see no one mentioned that here so I'm wondering if I shouldn't use it in their yard. I use wood shavings in the coop. I too am new to chicken "farming". Thanks.

 

[pollo65]

If you put sand in the run, how are the odors controlled? In the coop, with sand bedding, the poop is on the poop board mostly. In the run, does rain wash it away? We're nearly to the dirt stage ourselves as the grass is nearly gone... replaced by odor and poop. Novice here. Thanks! P. s. love my girls!

 

[Rock Home Isle]

My chickens have eaten and dug up all the grass in there run. What should I put down now in there? Is mostly dirt now. Wood shavings? Or just leave it?

How big is the run?

If not to big, I'd put down a layer of sand and top it off with a layer of wood shavings. That would be ideal for a small flock, but without knowing the size of the area its hard to make an accurate call.



I have a run that measures 9 feet by 12 feet. The coop is off the ground by 13 inches which allows the chickens full access the entire area of the run. I try to keep 3 to 4 inches of wood shavings in the run. This has greatly kept smells at bay, which is a great concern with the coop and run being situated close to the house. My yard is fenced so the girls come out into the main yard each day. This arrangement lets them spread their activities over a larger area.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I have a bag now on my mower and I empty the grass clippings in the run with the birds. They actually eat pick and stir the clippings around and it forms compost. Also worms are attracted to the area as well.

I empty my yard clippings into the run as well. It doesn't take long for the birds to pick through this material for anything that they wish to nibble on, then they do a fine job of incorporating the material into the shavings and dirt floor of the run. The ground is nice and earthy, with grubs and worms that the birds enjoy rooting around and finding. I do have to go into the run once a week and fill in holes that they have excavated through their activities.

 

[Eggcessive]

In the fall I will rake up leaves to put in my coop and run. The leaves which are mostly maple, crumble up well with foot traffic and compost. Be sure if you use grass to let it thoroughly dry before if you put it inside the coop or nest boxes since it builds up heat and molds.