Chicken run floor suggestions

[rdsaunders]

Good afternoon

Thank you for all the helpful information on this forum and the replies to my earlier message about plastic coops. I’ve designed a roofed walk in run 2m x 3m. But not really sure what to do with the floor.



The run is going to be placed between the trampoline and the tree., you may be able to see the markers in the ground. As you can see this area is quite barren, an old log store used to sit on this ground and is the grass is now beginning to regrow.

I was wondering wether I add patio slabs, or to cover the area in weed membrane and line it with something. Or is the ground as it is ok?

So many questions.

 

[Icemaiden]

I left the ground as it was when I built my run. The grass won't last long, but the resultant bare earth will still give good scratching & pecking opportunities. So long as it drains reasonably well it should be fine.

Don't forget that to prevent predators from digging their way into the run, either
A) you need to dig a trench & bury the bottom of the fencing a good 30cm into the ground, or
B) a much easier alternative is to bring the bottom of the fencing wire flat along the ground on the outside of the run & cover it in a row of patio slabs (outside the run). This has the added benefit of giving you a path to walk along in wet weather.

 

[rdsaunders]

Good shout on the predator netting. I had considered adding a 50cm piece all the way around.

But nice not to have to do anything extra on the inside. It’s going to have a corrugated roof and I hope to add a gutter along the back and drain into a water butt.

All feels very real now. The coop will be delayed slightly as Solway have had a massive fire in their workshop and offices. But gives me time to get everything ready.


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[Icemaiden]

Sorry to hear about the fire at Solway's. How dreadful. Good for you for waiting though. It'll be worth it...

 

[Marigold]

Yes, the chickens will enjoy digging in a bare earth floor, but even with a roof, some areas will become wet and muddy in winter when rain blows in. Also, chickens do poo a LOT, and a system which enables you to pick this up easily on a daily basis keeps things much more pleasant, both for the birds and for their humans. You do need extra protection against digging predators, both rats and foxes, and it can work well to use slabs or buried mesh round the outside, but this takes a lot of effort to instal and uses extra space. The back of your run against the fence might be left vulnerable as well.

I’ve found the easiest and most long-lasting way to solve the two problems of easy run maintenance and security is to instal a layer of 1/2” galvanised mesh over the floor of the run, having levelled the earth as well as you can. Take this up the sides, about 30cms or as much as you have spare, and ‘sew’ it to the side mesh using soft garden wire. Add enough earth on top of this to cover and cushion the mesh, and then add a layer of permeable weedproof membrane, pegged down all round using metal tent pegs, as plastic pegs won’t go through the small mesh.Cover the membrane with 10cms of Aubiose or other similar horse bedding. This is warm and comfortable for the hens, incredibly absorbent, and it coats the poo, making it easy to pick up. This makes superb compost, giving carbon to balance the nitrogen in the poo. It doesn’t develop moulds when it gets wet, like some kinds of wood chip does, and you can also use it in the coop and nest boxes. The mesh and membrane will stop the hens digging holes in the floor, which is a good thing in a smallish run and will prevent the bedding getting messy with added earth, and will last for many years. Mine has now been down for ten years, and is still fully effective at keeping out vermin etc. Provide a nice big deep dust bath for them to dig in, in a dry spot.

Whatever approach you adopt, get it right to start with, it’s so much easier than retrofitting to try to rectify avoidable problems of mud or predators!

 

[LOUISE171273]

Hi all, do you think this would work well on concrete slabs too or is there a better way? This is our first time and are getting confused with the advice we are getting. We were told 20mm pea gravel then we were told this was a no no. Have erected our coop house today and got someone organised to help us build a walk in run. Just not sure about surface, we want to make sure were all set up before we get the girls.Many thanks Claire

 

[Marigold]

Hi Louise and welcome to the Forum.
Totally agree with the advice not to use pea shingle - it would get filthy with poo and the hens would dig it into the mud and there would be no way of cleaning it up. Very difficult to get rid of it afterwards as well.
Slabs would be OK, good protection against digging predators, although cold and hard for the hens, who prefer something soft and warm that they can scratch around in, and settle down to rest on. You could put 4-6 ins of Aubiose on top of the slabs, with boards round the edges of the run to keep it in, and this would be fine if the run was roofed to keep it dry. If there was no roof so the floor got wet, or if you wanted to hose bare slabs as a way of cleaning up, drainage would be a problem as the slurry would just accumulate round the edges and be a nasty smelly mess. Hens do poo a LOT! With a dry run and Aubiose you can keep it clean and sweet with 5 minutes poo picking per day and an occasional change of bedding.
Do think about winter conditions, plan for when it’s wet and cold, and the days are short and dark. You want the run to be comfortable for you, as well as your hens, so you can enjoy caring for them even when the weather is horrible. This also means planning for shade. Hens are basically woodland birds, they withstand dry cold conditions very well as they’re so well insulated, but must have shade in sunny conditions like we’re having at the moment.
How big is your run going to be, and how many hens do you hope to put in it?

Lots of ideas on here, have a look at previous threads, and use the Search box above to find relevant posts. Do let us know how you get on.

 

[rick]

For a covered run base I think slabs are perfect with a good layer of horse bedding on top and kick boards round the sides to contain it all. I put my run on the existing block paving and its been very good. When scratching around they bottom out through the bedding just enough to keep their nails trimmed. One thing that I've never quite managed to arrange is a drain or outlet at the lowest corner - all our garden is flat so jet washing or wet sweeping just makes a puddle that goes round and round but not easily away. Obviously you would have to sweep out well before jetting it clean but if you could then woosh it clean down the drain that would be fantastic. I had a game on with mice finding holes at the corners of the blocks for a while but slabs would be tighter fitting. Young mice go straight through 1/2" mesh but at least it makes things difficult for them (and much harder for adults.) There is only so much you can do about mice but as long as they can't easily saunter in and have a free festival in the run every night then they are a minor bother.

 

[rdsaunders]

Thanks everyone. I’m definitely going to keep a look out for anyone who no longer wants their patio slabs and slab under the run, it sounds like having a solid base that is easily cleanable seems the right approach and helps with the predator proofing too.

Those who have a solid base have you added mesh around the perimeter of the run to protect from foxes?

Auboise seems popular whilst wood shavings also seems like a good alternative. The wood arrives next week to start building the run. I plan to build it in panels which will allow me to extend in the future if morehens disease strikes.


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[Hen-Gen]

Each to their own, rds, but it’s been my experience that wood shavings take ages to rot down (as in compost) whereas Aubiose rots very quickly.
There is also a similar product to Aubiose called Bliss which has added eucalyptus oil so smells good and deters flies.

 

[Marigold]

When choosing floor material, it pays to research local suppliers who will deliver at a reasonable rate, or who are near enough for you to collect for free. Online suppliers of Aubiose charge the earth for delivery but our local stables charges £10 per bale plus £2.50 for the total delivery, which can include other items from their shop such as sacks of feed. Yesterday I shared an order with my neighbour and between us we had 8 large items delivered for £2.50. If you check the Aubiose site it has a page listing local suppliers. See
http://www.aubiose.co.uk/stockists.php

 

[rick]

Those who have a solid base have you added mesh around the perimeter of the run to protect from foxes?

Foxes will go around the bottom edges first, seeing if they can dig under and in. Having the run frame a little smaller than the base by a few inches and either fixed down (if the frame is light) or just a good flat fit (if its heavy) stops that plan. Next they will try the corners and edges of mesh panels - mostly by nudging to see if it gives at all - like where staples are easily pushed loose. Lastly they might try chewing through wire but their teeth are their livelihood so I dont think they do that quite as often as is reported. 2, 3 or 4" weldmesh will stop them even after several nights of working at it (and you would notice their attempts) if its well fixed to the frame (screws and penny washers are good.) I've gone a bit OTT with 4" weldmesh and 1/2" over it but it is good to know that once the run door is shut foxes are nothing to worry about. Runs that are insecure are pretty much worse than roosting in the open because the chickens only line of defence is to fly away (at least some, perhaps most may survive.)

It tends to be around the bottom panels that it needs to be strongest (if you also have a roof) because, while they can climb, climbing and trying to break in at the same time is much harder. They tend not to go in unless they feel comfortable that they can get out again in a hurry though I think I have heard of some here that have found a fox trapped in the run so it may happen.