I have a ton of pine trees so I go and collect a few wheel barrel full and dump them in my run and the chickens and ducks spread it all out then I keep mixing it and adding more, it eventually breaks down into soil and really helps with the wet duck mess and rainy weather, I am also adding river rock and pea gravel around the ducks pool and house
This is awesome advice. Instead of the shavings I would use the pellet horse bedding $5.99 a bag and the pellet draws in the moisture and goes so far. Ooops you just mentioned it.
I'm just about to receive 6 chickens for the first time, and had to check for this info. Thank you for explaining it. I now know what to do if or most likely, when my coop gets muddy I will now know what to do. Thank you.
I love the chicken coming around as you were spreading the pine shavings, looking in, and clucking in a way that it did sound like it was asking a question lol
2 inches of large gravel rock covered by 2-3 inches of sand will be your best bet for drainage. One rain and the straw and shavings get so gross and hard and gross to remove once soaked. Just another option we have found is game changing.
Thanks for your very informative video! I"m trying to do my due-diligence reseach before I buy the chickens. I hope I'm not putting you on the spot, but based on what you said, wouldn"t it be better to put the straw on the ground first (since it takes longer to break down), and then the pine shavings? Many thanks! 😎👍🐔
I do it this way because the shavings absorb moisture, but straw does not. The shavings soak up the soupy-ness on the bottom, then the straw above that provides a clean and dry layer for the chickens to walk on. Thanks for watching!
Use a layer of sand. Allows for drainage and works great. Add more if needed if you rake the poop out and erode the sand away. Works great. No more smell or water on their legs.
My property is covered in leaves. Saw a video on here where the guy used his lawn vac to pickup and shred the leaves to use as a bedding. The run has a good grade but we’ve had nonstop rain for almost a week. 😢
I noticed your baby chickens are with the other chickens? Do you just leave them with the brood mother and she looks after them and protect them from other chickens or do you keep them apart? Cheers
We have a fairly large chicken run like yours in South Carolina. Its on the edge of the woods within pine trees so the soil is clay/sand/dirt. I usually just take a rake and gently rake the "top" poop out, but I feel I need to add a 3 inch layer of sand or SOMETHING to the run. We use straw in the coop, but I feel like it would be a waste to use in the run?
Thank your for this video, it was very helpful! Quick question-after it has broken down and you need to add more straw, do you start all over and rake it all out? I am guessing so, but just wanted to make sure. :) thank you
We do that inside the actual coop since it’s a concrete floor , but in the run since it’s dirt floor and the roof is open to rain, it all composts down very fast. In 6 years we’ve never had it build up, it just breaks down and we keep adding new layers of clean bedding on top. Easy peasy!
I was wondering if anybody knows about using walnut shavings for bedding for the run? I have tons of it from my sawmill and didn’t know if it was ok to use. I know to stay away from cedar but didn’t know about walnut.
I had a run like this and I completely covered it. It was all dirt and because of no rain going into the run it was a lot of raking. Her way is actually pretty smart. All of that material compost down and the chickens are always mixing it for you. You can keep adding layers or even use it in garden beds.
With all respects, the way to fix a muddy chicken run is to have the base built up 4 inches minimum all around with sand. Next, a solid shed style roof diverting water down hill and away. The roof should have 2 foot eaves all around. Runs need to stay dry all the time. Looks as though yours may have water spilling onto it from the larger building. Nip the problem and you won't have to spend money or time on dealing with the symptoms. Also, your roof is too low, you hit your head. Your too sweet of a person to be bending and stooping. Good luck!
If you listen the run was there before she moved in, so I don't think had a say in design. I do agree though, I'd cover the rest of it. As for sand that's more preference, for me sand gets mucky fast and prefer the mix of shavings, pellets or straw.
Having a run so your chickens can get outside of their little house is not free ranging. Free-ranging is where you just let them loose and they can pick on grass in the pasture or in your yard. You are not free.Ranging your chickens by letting them come out of their little house
