In the run

[Merry]

Our garden isn`t big enough to move the run to new areas of grass all the time so I`ve got to make a permanent run. I`ve been advised that woodchips are the best bet for the floor. I`ve also been advised to get stuff that they put on stable floors but it`s really expensive.
What I wonder is - do I put the woodchips straight on to the grass? And how thick should it be? And where`s the best place to get it?
(My chooks free range in the garden for some of each day.)

[farmerdrea]

I would put a layer of gravel/shingle under the woodchips, to aid in drainage. The woodchips will wick up a lotof moisture, and then you'll have a big smelly mess any time it rains, or you will have to replace it often. Will your run be covered? That will help somewhat in the moisture situation, but not entirely, as the woodchips are amazingly attractive to water. Even if you don't get heavey rains or standing water often, the one time you do having the the gravel under the chips will make life a lot easier. The rock should be about 4 inches deep.

Cheers
Andrea
NZ

[Millymollymandy]

Whatever you put down they will dig - I just let mine out yesterday to free range and that always reminds me why they stay most of the time in their large run, because of all the mess they make and I have to go around and clear it up today! They dig holes in the gravel drive - large scalpings are no problem for them not to mention scattering my flower bed soil all over the grass!

In your situation I would leave their run as it is for now if it has grass on it and then address the problem in the autumn or whenever the grass has gone. It all depends on how many chooks you have and how big your run is.

[Merry]

Thanks folks - just two chooks in a 2mx2m run with a covered roof bit as shelter. I`ll leave them where they are for the time being then.

[Esther.R]

I suspect the suggestion of rubber matting (I assume thats what you/they meant re the stuff used in stables) under the chippings was to stop them digging through the chips and making huge holes in the garden or under the fencing of the run. It varies between about £23 a sheet and about £35 a sheet and one should be enough to cover an area of that size I think (can't remember their exact dimensions but you can get various sizes) they are a couple of cm thick and basically indestructable - a friend of ours has had hers down in the stables for 15 years and the original mats are still going strong - so although not cheap they would be a long term solution if you wanted them not to dig huge holes, however the downside I can see with an uncovered run and woodchips over rubber would be the lack of drainage, they would get very wet very quickly unless it is on a slope, but on the plus side would be easy to completely clean out and replace wood chip when needed. The gravel chippings under the wood chip would drain much better, although probably cost about the same.

[Thomzo]

I'm with Mandy on this one. I think putting anything down would be a waste of money. I would be worried that they would scratch and peck at the rubber matting and end up eating half of it.

Mine are on bare earth which was once grass. I put all manner of prunings, hedge trimmings, grass clippings, swept leaves etc in there and they love it. I also move the bedding from inside the hen house to the outside run (mainly shredded paper and grass clippings) every couple of months. A couple of times a year, I dig out about 6 inches from the bottom of the run and put it on the veg patch then start again.

It does get pretty muddy but the hens don't seem to mind. In fact the conditions seem to be perfect for worms and other grubs and that keeps the hens happy. A few large stones around the edge of the run and maybe a couple of old paving slabs around the pop hole might help though.

Cheers
Zoe