[Bonniebean]

Can anyone give me advice on ground cover when putting chickens in a dirt run? I have seen wood chip for sale, but is this practical and right for the birds? Any suggestions and sources would be greatly welcomed.

[Kate and her Ducks]

I put down bark chips (the play area ones) in my run which helps keep the mud that 10 duck create down to a minimum. On offer at B and Q at the moment too.

[francais]

Can I ask - do you clean our the bark every so often or just poop pick. Just wondering how on a fixed run it stays clean. I have been having this chat with DH about constructing ours

[Kate and her Ducks]

Well I have ducks so poo picking isn't really an option as it is all a bit liquid. I rake it over every now and then and when it gets too horrid I scrape it up and put it on the compost.

[francais]

Thanks Kate 

[Bonniebean]

Thanks Kate. I shall have a look at their site. I have seen it suggested that you can rinse it down with a hose now and again - do you do that or just put it all for composting?

[Kate and her Ducks]

I have ducks!!!

Everything gets drenched all the time!!!

I try to keep things as dry as possible which works for a while as does the raking over but in the end it is just too rancid and needs changing!

[pink-chicken]

Bonniebean, just a tip, make sure it's 'play' bark without additives as a lot of decorative bark is dyed dark brown and smells chemically 

I was advised on here myself by very helpful members that you can sometimes get bark and wood chippings free from your local council and also buy nice clean bark from some tree surgeons.

Jan.x

[New shoot]

I use chipped bark in my chicken run Bonniebean and I do hose it down whenever possible. This is usually weekly when I clean out in the spring, summer & autumn, but if it is a wet dreary spell over the winter, I don't make anything wetter than it has to be.

It works for a while, but does need raking out and changing every couple of months. I use it as mulch on the garden or allotment.

My chicks love new bark chips. I tip the bark out in a pile and they spread it all over the run for me. They are always knackered by the end of run clean out day  

[Bonniebean]

Thanks Jan, I will try the local council as they are very big on recycling and produce compost for sale so they may have chippings as well.
Sue

[Bonniebean]

I can't wait for the fun to start New Shoot! Thanks for the tips, everyone is so helpful! x

[Debz]

I use bark chips too.  Every week I give it a rake over and once a month I take out some and put in a fresh bag.  It helps to keep it smell fresher.  I quite often use the stuff I have taken out the run as a top dressing for the garden.  Weed suppresant and fertiliser all in one bucket!

[scrappydoo]

Hi Bonniebean, Hi all
    During the summer mine was just soil with half the run under cover, but as the rain has come with the outside part getting 'boggy' I have covered that area in sand which seems to work all right as the water soaks through yet it can be walked on comfortably and poop scooping is easy as well.

Best Regards

Steve

P.S.  Sand is also long lasting and relatively cheap

[francais]

Steve - Any sort of sand? or does this have to be play grade too? Supose that would be a good source of grit too?

Thanks

[grumpydad]

my fixed run is covered, i have wood chip from a tree surgeon down, i poo pick then turn it all over with a rake, every few days, sprinkle with stanoslan f every week to kill off bactera and help keep it sweet
it is about 8" deep, and cost nothing, tree surgeon is grateful to get rid of a load, as it costs him to get rid of it.
have changed it after 6 months, and composted what i took out