dirt floor

Hi All, I have a dirt run, and was wondering if people typically add any additional substrate to their run on top of the original dirt? As of right now, it’s working fine, and allowing for a several dust bathing areas, but they are starting to scratch large divots in each corner. I’m also...

Hi all! I’m a long time lurker, and I know there are lots of similar posts but I haven’t seen any that *quite* match my situation. Please bear with me if I give too much information! I recently had a young chick pass away. She’s not the first to die, it happens once in a while, but I’d brought...

I’ve been reading up on the benefits of using Diatomaceous earth. People say it’s beneficial in controlling insects, good for digestion and a type of natural refreshing application. I’ve been using it in my coop, which has a dirt floor, and on the ground in the run area. I scrape the floor of...

I have a run that is over 460 square feet. I live in the city, in Arizona, so it's pretty hot here and the amount of space isn't terrific. But my run had a pretty significant amount of grass and it's 100 percent gone. I have 12 hens, and at the minimum 4 square feet per hen, that's quite...

I am curious, especially those who have tried both the dirt floor coop and the raised wood floor coop which you prefer and why? I am trying to decide which one I should build. TIA

Wondering what to use for the "flooring" of my chicken run? It's currently dirt, but I am worried about the upcoming winter in northern MN. More dirt? Hay? Sand? Leaves? I will soon have access to a ton of leaves... not sure if that's a great option or a slippery messy one. :) The run is covered...

Hello! So, I'm going to turn one section of my shed into a roomy new coop for my girls. It's a separate area from the main room, and has a roof, one solid wall and a back wall that's got ~1' gap at the bottom. I will need to cut in windows/ventilation and I'm contemplating having the front of...

I have a huge run for my small five hen flock. Half is straw and the other half is dirt. The feeders are in the middle. It gets afternoon sun and is sheltered from predators and rain. I'm not sure the dirt is good for them or if maybe I should put straw all over. They've never free-ranged...