[Mrs.Apron]

We're considering keeping our hens in a more secure (but smaller) run with a concrete floor, and letting them free range when we are working in the garden.

I've looked all over the forum and on other sites to try to decide what to use as flooring in the run. (8ft x 9ft for 3 hens).

I am swaying towards 20mm gravel as it sounds easier to hose down and keep clean, but bark appeals too.  A lot of places say bark isn't suitable due to mould spores.  I've also read that sharp sand makes a good floor too.

There is so much conflicting advice out there...

Can somebody please help me decide??  :blink:

Thanks!

[Tony H]

Hi after trying a few diferent flooring on top of the concerete iv decided to just throw a load of  straw down and let the chucks go to town on it, I found that the wood chip was hard to keep clean and not smelling, I was thinking of trying gravel but was worried about the stale water gathering under it  think its just a case of trying 

[Truffle]

We started off with a gravel base and I must say it did not stay for any longer than 6 months. Don't get me wrong, it looked beautiful till the droppings got all mixed up in it. There was nowhere for the poop to go but to the bottom and in the summer months it stank. Also the water container was constantly knocked over where the chickens dug holes.

Now on concrete and the run is bare ground, so much easier just jet wash clean.

[Mrs.Apron]

Thanks for that.  I hadn't thought about the water getting stagnant underneath.  Yuck. 

Does anyone use bark?  Or sand?

[Dawnuss]

Im pretty much a newbie so dont im no expert lol but ive put down sharp sand and i chuck a bit of straw over the top for the chooks to scratch around. I change the straw every couple of days and im planning to change the sharp sand every month. it seems to be going well and they love scratching around in it and i just give it a good rake over at the end of the day. you can get different powders that absorb smells although after a week ours isnt smelling. the food and water containers stay upright and it doesnt clump their feet so i will definitely use sharp sand again. The only thing i found is when i bought it it was damp so i took it out the bag and dried it for a couple of days. Hope this helps   

[Cluckyclaire]

Hello, I put shrub and conifer clippings in mine and replace once a week it goes onto the compost heap, does not smell as the air can circulate, and the hens scratch about and enjoy the leaves, just make sure no nasties (knotweed/poisonous plants) are in there, find a local landscape gardener who would probably be happy to deliver a load to you for free as they have to pay to dispose of it I believe, all the best

[Mrs.Apron]

Great ideas there, thanks!

[cachehunny]

Great ideas there, thanks!

hi all, i was wondering if you knew if it would be ok for me to put last years shredded hedge trimmings down on the chook run floor as , being earth it's got very muddy and i'm worried about the girls getting clogged with mud, which i've heard can lead to bugs under the scales on their legs.  i am a reall newbie to chook keeping . 
thankyou
jacqueline

[jhub]

I use hardwood bark chips which I disinfect regularly with Stalosan and replace twice a year. The run is covered so the bark stays fairly dry and not smelly.
I mulch the garden with used bark.