Gravel in coop?

[perkolator]

You could use the gravel in various places, such as around the outside of your (human) house, or the coop/run, to discourage pests from digging under.

I tried this and it didn't work so well, learn from my mistake.
Someone in the past stupidly mixed common "salt & pepper" river gravel into our crushed stone gravel driveway, it's slippery and doesn't match, so I've been trying to get rid of it in various projects around the property. I was able to use a lot of it in my coop's cinder block foundation, which was great because it's fully buried. But then I thought I could use some around the perimeter of my chicken areas, on top of the HC skirting, to keep animals from digging down to it --- hahahahaha yeah right, they just scattered the rock like it was dirt and now it's real fun to mow that section of the yard. My chickens easily dig up larger rocks, such as 4-6" cobble stones and all the firewood chunks I place around the perimeter of my extended run to keep them from digging on the inside fence edge, they just kick those around and get to the worms/bugs hiding underneath like it's a game.

 

[Silkiechicken66]

I tried this and it didn't work so well, learn from my mistake.
Someone in the past stupidly mixed common "salt & pepper" river gravel into our crushed stone gravel driveway, it's slippery and doesn't match, so I've been trying to get rid of it in various projects around the property. I was able to use a lot of it in my coop's cinder block foundation, which was great because it's fully buried. But then I thought I could use some around the perimeter of my chicken areas, on top of the HC skirting, to keep animals from digging down to it --- hahahahaha yeah right, they just scattered the rock like it was dirt and now it's real fun to mow that section of the yard. My chickens easily dig up larger rocks, such as 4-6" cobble stones and all the firewood chunks I place around the perimeter of my extended run to keep them from digging on the inside fence edge, they just kick those around and get to the worms/bugs hiding underneath like it's a game.

Thanks for the heads up, I’ll keep that in mind!

 

[Silkiechicken66]

This.



That's very awkward for you. I hope the sand works out.

Straw is traditional, but takes a lot of management to keep it from packing, matting, and developing anaerobic pockets. I've heard that chopped straw is better about that but haven't tried it.

It definitely makes things difficult. But we’ll work around it.

I do use straw and hay in nesting boxes. From my experience, chopped straw doesn’t matt up nearly as much and is softer. But the chickens loved dust bathing in it, so it was everywhere.

 

[3KillerBs]

But the chickens loved dust bathing in it, so it was everywhere.

I just accept the fact that any bedding I use will be everywhere no matter what.