PoultryTalk.com

I am just starting up, have purchased my run and am not sure what to put on the ground of the run - wood chips, bark, sand??? The run is placed on brick work at the moment, so I need to put a nice thick layer of something down for the chooks to scratch about in. What to use - I don't know - can anyone help?

If it was me, I'd start off with a thick layer of sharp sand (not builder's sand) partly to soak up rainfall and partly so the chickens can use it to dustbath in. They'll scratch down through the woodchip and find it OK.

Then on top of that I'd put a thick layer of playground quality woodchip (I have that on top of the soil in my chicken run). That gives them something to scratch around in. Don't try and save money by putting cheaper softwood chip because of splinters. We renew ours annually.

Whatever you do, don't put bark down. Because it's untreated it can harbour bacteria and fungi which will harm your chickens.

I live on a farm, so my dad has loads of straw for his cows, which i use.

I have an old preserving pan with play sand laced with louse powder for them to bath in - they love it. I think the idea of woodchip (not bark, as you say) is a good idea. But some top soil, trodden down, wouldn't do any harm, either, would it? So they can find bugs and stuff?

Going a bit off topic here I suppose but I am planning to erect a large run for my large Sussex's, but I'm not sure how to make it fox proof. Has anyone else any experience of constructing a fox proof coop. Im particularly concerned with stopping the fox digging down and getting underneath the netting.

My run is on a big concrete slab with Aubiose horse bedding down to be absorbant and give them something to scratch about in!

Lewis. A light bulb has come on!! Thanks for your help.

hi we use the hardwood chippings from flyts so fancy

I have found it easy to keep clean, even with the ducks, and looks nice to

Thanks for all the advice. I did put some bark down, but with all the rain of the last few days, it has not lasted well. I think sharp sand and wood chippings will have to be got hold of. Now to find a supplier of wood chippings in my area