run bedding

Hey y'all! A couple of weeks ago we finally moved our two "og" hens to their new coop and run. The coop is a small prefab, and the run is one of those metal ones that you have to assemble; a tarp is covering one section, but we plan on getting another to cover the section their coop is under...

Hello! Recently, we’ve been filling up some big holes in the backyard with shell rock, which is crushed limestone and shells. I’ve always been under the assumption limestone was toxic if the dust is inhaled. Is that true, or will my chickens be harmed if they are exposed to it?

I think I made a mistake when I put my ladies out in their coop with the attached run. I didn't prep the run in any way, shape or form, and just assumed the dirt/grass/weed situation was good enough. Now that it's been a few weeks obviously the weeds/grass are gone and it's just bare soil, but...

I have chickens and ducks. they have separate coops but have the same run. what is the best thing to put on the ground in the coops and run? The ducks soak the run and make it all mud and smell like a pig pen and the chickens dig holes that make me trip when hauling water in. I have heard some...

I was set on using sand in my coop and run based on advantages I had read about and the “Chicken Chick” and others recommendations. Now I am questioning it after reading an article in how it should never be used. I might be overthinking but now I am not sure what to use! I live in a residential...

We live in a small town where sand is not really an option to fill our huge run so we filled the whole thing with peat moss. They’re just going in their run now after being inside the house and they’re eating and digging through it (as predicted). Our run is covered and doesn’t get wet so I’m...

Does anyone have any experience in using wood chip mulch for their chicken run? (The kind you see at playgrounds, not sure if I’m using the right name) My run is so muddy and STINKS because it’s at the bottom of a slope in my yard. I researched it online and seems safe to use, however...

I've raised chickens in the past but just now have the time to start building a real chicken coop, run, etc. Looking forward to designing, building and raising. Live on a lake now so have raised ducks in the past. may look into that also.

I had a couple questions about the coop and run we are building, specifically the run and if I need to add bedding to it. It’s going to be about 200 square feet and will be covered with a combo of metal roof and/ or bird netting. It’s in a wooded area and is just dirt as of now. I didn’t think I...

I have been doing a fair amount of reading here on BYC , trying to find my answers, but I feel like this might be a more personal to me questions. If not id be happy to read what ever article/forum post you send my way ^..^ in my run, I plan on doing a deep litter method for the chickens, the...

Hi All, I have a dirt run, and was wondering if people typically add any additional substrate to their run on top of the original dirt? As of right now, it’s working fine, and allowing for a several dust bathing areas, but they are starting to scratch large divots in each corner. I’m also...

We have a small coop (from TSC) and we built an attached run for it that is about 6'x3'. We have 4 chickens, about 14 weeks old. We're using large flake pine shavings (also from TSC) in both the coop and the run. No issues in the coop. The chickens are let out into our suburban garden for about...

Hi all. I'm looking for some advice (🙄 LoL) We recently had an expensive and scary experience with our girl Rose: Thread 'GI Impaction aka Expensive Adventures with Rose' https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/gi-impaction-aka-expensive-adventures-with-rose.1474106/ She is almost ready to...

Hey all! I have finished my coop, just finished my run. My 11-12 week olds have now been out in their coop for a week and are super happy! It's time to get them out into their run as well. I need to hear from all of you experienced chicken keepers what your favorite, most affordable ground...

Hey everyone! My dad and I recently built my first coop and run. We built it over 3 or 4 Saturdays when he could drive down and help and I have been basically constantly working on it since. Well actually, I acquired and reused the coop and we built a run around it. We have no experience...

I’m looking for some options for flooring in all my coops. I had to tear out the previous flooring because of my flock having a disease. I have coops that are raised from the ground, so cement and dirt wouldn’t work. Any ideas or options would be big help! As from the run area, what’s the best...

Seems like everyone will say I over-reacted, but I feel terrified of predators getting to my beautiful hens. So I rolled out 1/2” galvanized hardware cloth under my new run. I put in pea gravel and straw thinking the depth would protect their feet from the wire. But they scratch and peck down...

Hey guys! Just ordered Chipdrop for the first time... We had TWO days of rain last week and the run is a mucky mess that the ducks are loving.. but my hennies - not so much lol. I wanna know how ya'll use the chip drop for your runs!! And if anyone has any issues with water/rain holding in...

I'm a brand new chicken keeper with two pullets about 20 weeks old. Our coop and run setup is a little different than most, located on a large cement slab in our yard rather than dirt or grass (the run was formerly a dog run built by the previous owners of our home). The run is fully covered by...

I am have an Omlet Eglu Cube with 9ft run coming and I need help deciding where to place it. They will have some fenced off areas to explore and forage during the day but will remain in the attached 9ft run until I open it... 1. Pea gravel area along the back of our house. There is a weed block...