Our 5 hens had quite a large area of lawn fenced off for a run, but quickly destroyed all the grass and all that remains is bare soil, which is fine when it's dry, but when it's wet they have to wade around in the mud. Can anyone recommend something suitable to improve the surface? We're thinking maybe bark chips might help - what do others use?
Thanks.
Kevin Wright
Best surface for chicken run?
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Diane
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My run used to be grass too - but it soon became bare and smelly, like yours.
It is now paved with slabs and topped with a layer of straw for the chickens to scratch around in. Once a week it all gets scraped out, hosed down, and fresh straw put down. I did leave one small area clear for a dustbath - and I put a low fence of that log roll, from the garden centre, around the earth area - to keep it from being scratched out over the slabs. I put a good sprinkle of Stalosan F or Bio super (from horsy places or agricultural stores) onto the bare earth area - just to keep the soil sweet. It gets replaced once or twice a year.
If you can roof the run, then so much the better, as the straw will keep nice and dry.
It is now paved with slabs and topped with a layer of straw for the chickens to scratch around in. Once a week it all gets scraped out, hosed down, and fresh straw put down. I did leave one small area clear for a dustbath - and I put a low fence of that log roll, from the garden centre, around the earth area - to keep it from being scratched out over the slabs. I put a good sprinkle of Stalosan F or Bio super (from horsy places or agricultural stores) onto the bare earth area - just to keep the soil sweet. It gets replaced once or twice a year.
If you can roof the run, then so much the better, as the straw will keep nice and dry.
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peter
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When I used to keep hens I split the run in two and restricted access to one half.
The in use side of the run used to get weeds, grass cuttings, kitchen vegetable peelings etc.
Once the surface got to the packed downtrodden stage, with a layer of greasy chicken droppings mixed with detritus on top, it was time for changeover.
Then I would rotovate both sides with a Merry Tiller and let the hens back into the unused side.
Oh the excitement of freshly turned soil.
Other beasties & bugs would help cleanse the detritus side while the hens mucked up part two.
The in use side of the run used to get weeds, grass cuttings, kitchen vegetable peelings etc.
Once the surface got to the packed downtrodden stage, with a layer of greasy chicken droppings mixed with detritus on top, it was time for changeover.
Then I would rotovate both sides with a Merry Tiller and let the hens back into the unused side.
Oh the excitement of freshly turned soil.
Other beasties & bugs would help cleanse the detritus side while the hens mucked up part two.
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