Author Topic: Permanent run ground (Read 2819 times)

egbert · « **on:** June 07, 2010, 07:59:38 pm »

Hi

We are considering moving our chickens to a permanent run rather than their current movable run - for various reasons.

However, what do you all do about the ground if you have non moveable runs - do you clean it, rake up the poo, spread anything to kill bacteria - as I believe that their poo will eventually contaminate the ground.

Ta

little blue · « **Reply #1 on:** June 07, 2010, 08:13:17 pm »

yes, scrap up the poop regularly, makes lovely compost.
depending on where you site it, it may get VERY muddy. we resorted to "crazy paving" of oddments of slabs, rocks, bricks to keep them off the ground, as any grass will be gone in a matter of days!

you can spread something on the ground.... I've gone completely blank! ??maybe lime?? !!

valr · « **Reply #2 on:** June 07, 2010, 08:43:59 pm »

lots of posts about this on the Omlet forum - folks seem to use hemcore or aubiose horsey type stufff ....

Daveravey · « **Reply #3 on:** June 07, 2010, 11:04:24 pm »

Our layers have been in a prem run for a couple of months now.

To freshen things up a bit, i break the top surface up with a fork & sprinkle a little Stalosan around.

I dare say you can use Diatom.

If it's muddy, as it is tonight, i spread some woodshavings about the run, leave it for a couple of days then rake out again, followed by another light covering of shavings.

Some folk use sand, bark or wood chips.

Womble · « **Reply #4 on:** June 08, 2010, 06:07:25 pm »

After everything went very muddy during our last prolonged wet period (also known as the "Scottish Summer"

), we put down bark chippings. These need to be renewed once in a while, and we do poo pick where we can. However, this has been working pretty well for over a year now.

HTH!

Pomona · « **Reply #5 on:** June 08, 2010, 06:27:49 pm »

I have my hens on a permanent run. It's absolutely fine. They have woodchips which are replaced every few months, and in between changings I scatter Bio-Dry disinfectant down. When I change the woodchips I put the used stuff on the allotment or as a mulch in the flower beds, it works a treat

The hens get plenty greenery during the day, and they get a great run to dig through - it does get a bit messy when they scatter the woodchip far and wide, but I'd definitely recommend it.

doganjo · « **Reply #6 on:** June 08, 2010, 08:33:44 pm »

My permanent run gets pretty waterlogged - so when I am cleaning out their shed I spread the old straw on the ground. Been working well fro a while now - soaks up the water. Then I scrape it all up on a dry day and put in the compost bin. I also add diatom when putting fresh straw in the shed and also when spreading the old straw about the run.