Winter-izing coops in the PNW??

[ShannonsChimkens]

Okay question about the wood chips - how do you keep the run clean with the wood chips? Right now our run is just dirt ( but they do free range half the day), so it’s super easy to rake up the poop to clean the run. We have pellets and chips ready to go in there but I can’t wrap my mind around how you keep a run clean if it’s covered in woodchps

The post above is what I do. They wear down the material to almost dirt, then I add more chips as it gets worn down. Speaking of... summer is ending and it’s time for more chips before heavy rain starts. I free range everyone all day everyday. I’m taking a risk with aerial predators, but the emus have really kept them at bay. The woodchips are in-front and around both coops. Same concept as a run though.

I guess you’re not supposed to use cedar, but that’s all the tree company brings me. Since it’s out in the open, it hasn’t caused problems for the birds at all.

 

[chickawhat]

Thank you! Super helpful idea with the plastic! We’re going to seal the edges of the coop to keep the rain from seeping in, but I really like the idea of the plastic base to keep the rain away from the chickens !

right! sideways rain is a thing here lol. so is mud. sooo much mud! we now have sand so the mud is no longer an issue but the sand absolutely can not get wet or it turns into a field of bacteria. under or sand is heavy plastic so the water doesn’t creep in from below either. some times i do still add sweet pdz to the sand when the humidity and fog is just to thick