In order to promote good health, it is important that the ground cover we choose helps keep our chicken run clean and dry.Īnything that absorbs waste or keeps moisture away from chicken feet is a good choice. InterestingĬhickens love to scratch and peck, so it is important that their ground cover provides them with plenty of opportunities to do just that.Ī boring, “fixed” ground cover may leave chickens bored and unhappy, and will also reduce foraging opportunities. It also needs to be gentle on their feet in order to prevent injury, particularly bumblefoot. We don’t want anything that might contain harmful chemicals or that could cause our chickens to suffer from respiratory problems. Safetyįirst and foremost, the ground cover in our chicken run needs to be safe for our birds. There are four main criteria that any good chicken run ground cover should meet: 1. The Best Ground Cover is Safe, Interesting, Sanitary, and Affordableīefore we go any further, it is helpful to understand just what we are trying to accomplish when choosing a ground cover for our chicken run, and why. We will tell you everything you need to know about the deep litter method below, along with a variety of other materials that make good ground covers or that can be used in the deep litter method on their own. Together, these materials are easy on chickens’ feet, promote dryness, and help absorb waste, while also providing chickens plenty of places to scratch and peck.ĭeep litter is more of a methodology than an actual substrate, but the advantages inherent to this method are massive. The best ground cover for a chicken run is a deep litter made from wood shavings and straw. Just what is the best ground cover for a chicken run? Something that won’t harm our birds, something that stays dry and something that can promote good sanitation practices.īut there are all kinds of opinions out there. That means that, in order to keep our chickens happy and healthy, we need to pick the right kind of ground cover. dozens of chickens inside chicken tractor Chickens spend much of their time inside their run or coop, and as all owners know anywhere that these birds spend time gets put through a lot: scratching, pecking, pooping, and more.

Covered chicken run