run flooring

[spud57]

Hi again! We are in the process of building a 6metre x 3 metre run for our 4 chooks but I am a little confused about what flooring to use. I have read a mixture of bark chips on weed fabric, concrete slabs with bedding on top and others so I am not sure what is best! The slabs plus bedding sounds good for cleaning out but will they be able to scratch around enough? will it be cold in winter? If not, will just ground covered with bedding get too wet ( the run will have a roof but at 2 metres high, rain will still get in..) Can anyone help with recommendations please?

[Flummery]

If you can afford it I'd go for slabs and something like hemp bedding which they love to scratch in. Soil is fine if they are moved regularly but in a static run you need to be able to clean thoroughly on a reasonably regular basis.

[DeanzBeanz]

Hi Spud,

I have a run about the same size. I recycled my old patio slabs to floor the run and used others vertically, half burried in the sand/cement mixture to provide extra protection around the bottom. The run sits on top of this.

On top of the slabs I have decided to use gravel (nice, smooth stuff) which will allow me to use the hose to wash away all of their droppings. I have also put in a drainage channel to allow it to dry quickly. I decided to give the girls a raised bed with a few tough plants to scratch around and play in.

Have a look on freecycle or gumtree for free slabs...

Hope this helps!

DeanzBeanz