Chicken Run Question

[in2camo]

So I've got my 8 week old chicks in their coop and they are really loving all the new space. I have pine shavings covering the wood floor of their coop, but here's my question. Their run is placed on the dirt pad my spa used to sit on. It's nice and flat and has an inch or so of loose dust/dirt from raking up all the leaves before I put the coop down. It's pretty compacted under that. Should I put down straw or pine shavings in the run to keep things dry and easier to keep clean and rake up, or should I just leave it dirt?

 

[Judy]

You might want to put the leaves back, if they are dry and not moldy. The chickens will love them, they will help keep their feet clean, and with a little luck they will find some bugs. Pine shavings and straw don't do well at all in the rain.

 

[MakelaNJoe]

I put my coop right on top of my grass and dirt that way my chicks cam pick through grass for bugs and they really enjoy the cool dirt on warmer days!

 

[in2camo]

My coop and run are both covered and the whole thing is under an awning. Moisture is not going to be an issue, I just think I want to get the manure and shavings as compost. But should I just use the pine shavings from the coop or should I put shavings or cut straw on the run floor too?