Single hen

[rich0869]

Hi, im new to keeping chickens and will shortly be getting a couple of Black Rocks. Im busy planning their run at mo and have a couple of questions. Does anyone here keep there Chickens on gravel in the run? Is it a good idea as it seems to me the easiest way of keeping the run clean (just hose it down). Is it ok on their feet? Any advice would be appreciated.

[Egluntyne]

Some folk do use gravel. So long as it is rounded it shouldn't harm their feet.

 

I've always imagined that the poo would all end up in a stinking mass underneath the gravel. It would here at least, as drainage is poor. I suppose it depends on your type of soil.

[rich0869]

I would use a permeable ground sheet under the gravel to allow water to drain away and keep the gravel separate from the mud, hopefully will drain away ok, the soils not too bad here (we hope)!!! Ive read somewhere about garden lime which you can put on the soil to keep it fresh. Maybe i could put this on the gravel and wash it through when hosing it down???

[Redwing]

The groundsheet is a good idea, as long as your soil is well drained you should be ok, if it isnt you may need to dig down and create a soakaway

 

The garden lime will help as will Stalosan F which is a powdered disinfectant that could be use on the dry gravel and raked over

 

Congratulations on your new chickens - they are great pets

[atsw]

If they turn out to be particularly 'scratchy' hens, you may find they constantly flick the gravel out of the run and all over the surrounding garden area. Bad news if it ends up on grass, as your mower will suffer.

 

Andrew

[Tweety]

I have put gravel down in one of my runs, and then put grit sand on top of the gravel as I thought it would be kinder on the girls' feet. The run used to get very wet and muddy, but is much drier now, and the girls love scratching about in it. They don't seem to mind walking on the gravel either.

[thewhitehouse]

I have gravel on my garden borders and the girls are forever scratting about in there, kicking it all over the lawn. I guess it would depend on the grade of the gravel - some is quite small - is it pea gravel?

[The good lifers]

I would avoid gravel anywhere near grass, unless it's well contained in borders, I've got to spend today picking it out of the grass and last summer I broke 12 mower blades!depends on where your run is, good for drainage and chickens love it!! The horse bedding is quite good as it rots down eventually!