Pavers for chicken coop run?

[Backyardhens5]

I’m buying a second hand coop that is currently set up on concrete pavers, and had the entire run floor also made of concrete pavers. My partner has never had chickens before and he’s worried about mess, and it got my thinking, maybe I should also put pavers down for their run floor?? I’d put straw/woodchips/sand or something on top of the pavers, and it’s be protected from the rain. I get that they’d prefer to be scratching in the dirt, but I intend to have them free ranging most of the time (weather depending, we live in Canada). Any reason not to do this? I also have to set the run up by myself, so hauling the run into the pavers solo would probably be easier than trying to get hardware cloth under it? Suggestions welcome. The run is an old dog run, roughly 8x13.

 

[nuthatched]

I wouldn't use pavers in the run, it would stink since you need green material for composting.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I have never used pavers but I have had two concrete runs. Eventually you will get a thick layer of extremely smelly black…compost. It will be worse than dirt and it will be harder to clean up. You will need to scrape it up. It’s great for gardening but nauseating to deal with. It gets hard on top and then underneath it will be almost a paste. I imagine it will get between the pavers and you will have to pick them up, level the ground again and put them back when you’re done scooping it. Would not recommend. Build a predator apron instead and then adjust your expectations about mess. If they spend a portion of their day in the run, it will get messy. The good thing about dirt is that you can always stir it up or add more.

 

[ChaosMom]

I’m buying a second hand coop that is currently set up on concrete pavers, and had the entire run floor also made of concrete pavers. My partner has never had chickens before and he’s worried about mess, and it got my thinking, maybe I should also put pavers down for their run floor?? I’d put straw/woodchips/sand or something on top of the pavers, and it’s be protected from the rain. I get that they’d prefer to be scratching in the dirt, but I intend to have them free ranging most of the time (weather depending, we live in Canada). Any reason not to do this? I also have to set the run up by myself, so hauling the run into the pavers solo would probably be easier than trying to get hardware cloth under it? Suggestions welcome. The run is an old dog run, roughly 8x13.

Place pavers under the framing along the outside perimeter with the extended HWC apron, but leave the interior bare soil. Then do deep litter (lotsa threads here about it.) You basically have a 5-6" deep pile of wood chips, pine needles, dead leaves, mulch, etc., imitating a forest floor, which is their native environment. The poop and other things sink into it, including my wedding ring once for an exciting four hours, and the chickens continue to stir the deep litter around as they scratch and dig. No smell. It composts naturally, and once a year you turn it out.

I do wear a separate pair of coop shoes (clogs) so as not to track "things" into the house, but it's a remarkably clean, simple, and attractive system.

 

[ChookaPete]

I’m buying a second hand coop that is currently set up on concrete pavers, and had the entire run floor also made of concrete pavers. My partner has never had chickens before and he’s worried about mess, and it got my thinking, maybe I should also put pavers down for their run floor?? I’d put straw/woodchips/sand or something on top of the pavers, and it’s be protected from the rain. I get that they’d prefer to be scratching in the dirt, but I intend to have them free ranging most of the time (weather depending, we live in Canada). Any reason not to do this? I also have to set the run up by myself, so hauling the run into the pavers solo would probably be easier than trying to get hardware cloth under it? Suggestions welcome. The run is an old dog run, roughly 8x13.

I think you'll be fine.


My main coop is half of my metal tool shed, on a concrete slab floor.
Currently I have fresh straw on the floor to catch the poop, but I also use mulched leaves from the garden.

When the straw gets noticeably smelly with poop, I just muck it out for compost and replace with new mulched leaves and straw. I just use a stiff broom to sweep it into big buckets - very easy process.
It is not black and foul to the extent that others have described.

Mind you my flock only sleep and lay eggs in the coop - they are outside in the yard all day long. So it's only the "night soil" that builds up on the straw.


Just outside the shed is a paved area (I'd post some pictures but it is very messy with fencing wire and junk everywhere!). I am thinking of setting up a second coop there, or at least a sheltered area with feeder boxes. It will have straw and mulched leaves too.