Chicken run ground cover ideas?

[Felicia4517]

We have a large run (over 1,000 sq ft) and are struggling with cover ideas. What are the best options that's affordable for such a large area and easy to maintain?

What started out as grass in there has quickly turned to mud and it's nothing but a slick mess. We tried sand and it didn't seem to work. Unless we used the wrong kind? It was a bag of play sand.

We love the idea of the deep litter method but we've never done it before. What about filling the entire run with potting soil to a depth of maybe 8 or 9 inches? Keeping it watered (how often?) and turning it all once a week?

Any and all ideas is greatly appreciated!!

 

[jennyf]

Any access to fall leaves? That's worked really well for us, and it can be the start of deep litter if you decide to go that route. The chickens chop it up nicely over time, it's absorbent, easy on the feet, and reduces smell. I think all potting soil by definition is going to have the little fertilizer bits (and possibly also the perlite and other bits) so you might be careful there. I've used peat moss before also, works well but apparently is not very environmentally sustainable.

 

[sweetater22]

Consider using wood chips aged if you can find them, most tree trimming cos. will dump them for free or they can be gotten from city street depts. Fill to depth of 6-8 inches, mix in yard waste , garden waste, pine straw, etc. try to simulate the forest floor the native home of all chickens. The wood chips and other materials will be the brown matter and the manure from your chickens will be the green making for a compost action that will produce great compost and a healthy bedding for your flock. Even in wet conditions the water will be wicked to lower portions of the bedding providing your flock a drier surface. Clean outs only once a year are not a bad result either.

 

[kgb6days]

We started with a trailer load of mulch - just the cheap stuff. Over the last year we have added on top of that dried leaves, grass clippings, pine needles - the goal is to 'recreate' what you find on the ground under a wooded area. We also give our chicks table scraps and anything they don't eat stays a part of it. I will turn it over whenever I feel like it needs it - maybe once a month or so or if I notice the chicks have dirty feet. In the summer I'll spray it with a little water to keep the dust down. We don't have any smell in the run. The chicks scratch and peck. I plan to clear it all out in the spring and put it in our garden, then start from scratch in the run again.

 

[Felicia4517]

We started with a trailer load of mulch - just the cheap stuff. Over the last year we have added on top of that dried leaves, grass clippings, pine needles - the goal is to 'recreate' what you find on the ground under a wooded area. We also give our chicks table scraps and anything they don't eat stays a part of it. I will turn it over whenever I feel like it needs it - maybe once a month or so or if I notice the chicks have dirty feet. In the summer I'll spray it with a little water to keep the dust down. We don't have any smell in the run. The chicks scratch and peck. I plan to clear it all out in the spring and put it in our garden, then start from scratch in the run again.

That sounds great. So, we could put maybe 3-4" of sand down first (what kind of sand?) and then a thin layer of leaves, grass clippings, pine shavings, etc? Keep it turned every so often and each time we turn it, add another thin layer of leaves and all that?
Does that sound right?

On a side note.. do you think this kind of deep litter method would work for our outside cats in their enclosure?

 

[kgb6days]

That sounds great. So, we could put maybe 3-4" of sand down first (what kind of sand?) and then a thin layer of leaves, grass clippings, pine shavings, etc? Keep it turned every so often and each time we turn it, add another thin layer of leaves and all that?
Does that sound right?

On a side note.. do you think this kind of deep litter method would work for our outside cats in their enclosure?

We didn't add any sand at all. We started with the mulch first. I had read too many people saying the sand caused a real smelly mess and I sure didn't want that. When we put our chickens in their run initially it was grass, but you know that didn't last long. When all the grass was gone we started with the layering as I described. I'm very happy with it.

 

[nminusyplusm]

You don't want to use sand for deep litter, just organic matter that biodegrades. And don't use this for cats!

ETA: Deep litter is the best choice for getting rid of mud problems.

 

[Welshies]

Hmmm, you want the mud fixed in your run?
Why is it so muddy?
Planting trees, scattering pea gravel here and there, as well as some sand can really help. Vegetation is huge, it decreases erosion.

 

[Folly's place]

If there's a drainage issue, fix it as soon as possible. Then, lots of mulch/ deep litter, and some shrubs or short trees are excellent too. Sand is not the answer!
Tall trees will make it almost impossible to cover your run, so I'd go for native non-toxic TOUGH shrubs and short trees.
Plants with edible berries are a plus!
Mary

 

[Felicia4517]

You don't want to use sand for deep litter, just organic matter that biodegrades. And don't use this for cats!

ETA: Deep litter is the best choice for getting rid of mud problems.

Don't use sand for the cats or don't use the deep litter method?