[Foobar]

Okay, so I think with all the rain we've had over the past year and wot not, I've decided to put something permanent down in my chicken run to stop it becoming a mud bath.
I'm leaning towards sharp sand, as it seems to be the cheapest option.  Rubber chipping is too expensive, wood chips are a possibility (if I can find a cheap source locally) but I was thinking they will stay wet longer .... and I was thinking sand would be the easiest to poo pick with?  (hosing wood chips down is an option but I think I would prefer poo picking)   Would the inclusion of the sand in my poo and fine wood shavings (from the hen house) compost mix be okay?  I'm guessing I wouldn't end up with that much sand in the mix?
Anyway, my main question is to do with what goes underneath said sand or chippings. I'll need a membrane to prevent weeds but allow the water to drain through (driveway stuff I assume) and stop the sand or chippings blending into the mud, but do I need something over the membrane (like lawn protector mesh) to stop the hens digging holes through the membrane?
Has anyone had any experience with this?  All comments welcomed.  Btw, this is in Wales, where it's raining 99.9% of the year (or so it seems!).

[Mammyshaz]

Sand will be fine in compost as long as it's blended well with other things, it will give a nice draining compost for plants that don't like too much water ( or help with drainage if anything like last summer  )

I've used bark but it does get dug in quite quickly as I've never used a liner. Sorry cannot help with this.

[Marches Farmer]

I use a layer of shavings with hay on top (the stuff that gets pulled out from the racks and ends up on the ground, so it's not dusty or mouldy but the sheep and calves won't eat it).  It will gradually get trampled to a blanket and when it needs to be replaced the whole thing will have meshed together and can just be rolled up like a rug and put on the muck heap.

[Emmam]

I have been researching this too and was planning on putting down gravel over the run floor but no mulch mat, so that I can rinse it over every so often?  Does this sound feasible - has anyone else used this method? Do you think I need to use a membrane? Thank you...

[the great composto]

I know someone who switched to rubber chips so that he could hose it down but that stuff has to go somewhere and i think it smelled really bad - not good if you are in a residential area.
I put woodchips ( local tree feller suppliy)  on mine with no membrane then every 3-6months take the top layer away & relace it with fresh wood chips.
The old woodchips composts really well.

[gillsta]

We use woodchips with no membrane. We have to top them up every few months, but we have a local supplier who is very reasonable. Not many problems to report but it is better than them walking on mud. Our ground is so wet so it was the best and most economical way to deal with the problem.

[graham-j]

Hi,I love sharp sand straight from the builders merchant £40 or less for m3.Just shovel it straight into the runs,as it gets dirty dig it in then top it up improves the soil and drains a treat.As it builds up even more I just dig it out and chuck it on the raised beds loverly drop of compost/soil improver.I am on heavy clay this brakes it up a treat.

Graham.

[Foobar]

Unfortunately I need to use a membrane as it's not my land, so I kinda need to leave it how I found it.  And the odd bit of sand going astray won't matter too much.
And yeah, regarding smell with rubber chips etc. I think that's why I would prefer to poo pick. I don't trust the poo to wash away.
I think I'll try the membrane with sharp sand over the top, nice and deep, and see how we get on.  If they start to dig through it then I'll have to put some reinforcement in I guess.  Just trying not to spend too much money as ever .


Thanks for your comments.

[doganjo]

Slabs - only way to keep it clean, even if it's just a bit round the hen house.  My life has improved so much since I moved mine into the garage block.(never been used as a garage - brick built, dog runs in and out with pop holes, and netted over the top. Easily hosed down, safe from Reynard