Outside run

[draytonsue]

As I've lost a number of hens to the fox this summer, we have built an enclosed run. Only part of this is covered.
What can I put on the ground (soil) to keep it smelling fresh and provide the hens with an interesting environment.
NB I have a hanging veg feeder filled with cabbage which they love.

 

[Bickerton]

A ton of hard wood chips would occupy them. mission to shovel it all back out when the ttime comes though

 

[Marigold]

Hi Draytonsue and welcome to the Forum.
You're right to wonder what will help keep the run floor clean and sweet, especaially if part of it is uncovered and thus liable to get wet and muddy in winter. As Bickerton says, a good covering of woodchips will help - sometimes you can get these quite cheaply or even free from a local tree surgeon. Other options are bags of shredded hemp or similar, such as Comfibed or Aubiose, which are more absorbent than woodchippings.
If the run has an earth floor, the hens will dig mud up into it whatever you use, and this will be messier under the uncovered end. One way to prevent this is to cover the base with permeable weed proof membrane before you put down any sort of bedding on top. This will at least prevent the birds from scratching mud up into the bedding muddy from below, but they will still enjoy digging in the chippings and will have a soft, well-drained surface to walk around and sit on.
However., of course it will also get dirty and smelly unless you try to pick up the droppings as part of your daily routine. Done regularly, the floor covering will stay relatively clean for much longer and the run will be pleasant to walk in, for both you and the birds. It only takes a few minutes, just go round with a bucket and wear rubber gloves. This is much easier and more effective under covered areas that don't get rained on, of course.
If you don't want to cover the floor with membrane, and the woodchip gets very messy, you will need to dig it all out regularly. You can then dig in some sanitising powder (Stalosan) before putting down clean bedding.

 

[BabyBantam]

On the same theme, I'm thinking of putting my girls on a permanent base for the winter as the ground is so wet, but not sure if pekins can live without the regular access to grass. Any ideas how reliant they are on grass in their diet and if they are going to be unhappy on auboise all winter?

 

[Marigold]

You can give them other greenstuff, mine love shredded green cabbage, it doesn't have to be grass. Other extras will be appreciated, eg fruit cores and peelings, and I add finelyy chopped up cores of cabbages or chopped celery to their evening mash.
I would imagine they would be much happier on Aubiose than out in the mud your grass will speedily turn into, when it gets to the stage where it has stopped growing. A well-drained layer of Aubiose to scratch in, walk around on, and sit on would be much appreciated and their feet would stay clean, especially if they have a roof to keep it nice and dry, and shelter across at least a couple of the sides to stop rain and wind blowing in.

 

[BabyBantam]

I've always kept them on grass during the winter. My garden is big enough to cope and move them weekly. The main issue is the wet. They don't like the wet grass (unless you count nancy who bathes in it )
I've tried them on greens, but they don't seems interested. Not sure if this is down to the free access to grass at the moment though.
I'm going to raise the ark and run onto wood sleepers, then lay a groundsheet on the top of the grass so I can re-seed the grass in the spring. Hoping this will suit them, as long term plan is to take out a hedge, build a palace and hatch chicks. Can see Fifi being a fab mum