How to Keep Your Chicken Run Clean - Ask Phill 7

[@henrybrereton9554]

i think your videos are one of the best on chicken keeping , loads of info and well communicated, they have been a big help, thanks

[@phillipweymouth430]

Thanks Henry for your kind words, glad to be of help. :)

[@tracy3364]

Fantastic I dread the winter being in Britain it rains a lot so it becomes a mud pit so I'm going to try this for my chickens ..only the best for them

[@theemilys7140]

Hello, my chicken run is half mud and half concrete slabs. Will the wood chip sit well over the concrete as well as the mud? Many thanks 🐔

[@phillipweymouth430]

Hi Emily, yes it will do just fine on both surfaces. A two /three inch layer makes a huge difference.

[@elizabethshepherdart]

my hens have a foxproof run open to the rain - it is wire netting with a wire netting as a roof - there are foxes around - they have a lot of nice things in it such as a wendy house a container topped by wire with grass etc i like the idea of the hard woodchips very much - is it better than just earth and would it be ok with rain?

[@phillipweymouth430]

Hardwood wood chip is perfect for their runs. It lasts a long time, does not compost like bark and is so much cleaner than earth. You can hose it down to clean it.

[@flytesofancy]

Oh yes, much better and just fine with rain.

[@1456Sassy]

Thanks Phill! I'm in the US is there a brand in the US you can recommend? Or what should I look for when buying some?

[@rhameenkolyani3202]

When you say hose it down, do you do this in the run or remove it all, rinse it, and put back the chips?

[@toffi5710]

Rhameen Kolyani I think hé means that he just leaves it in and makes the poop drain by "hosing it down"

[@verityoshaughnessy4831]

Hi Phill, we're new to chicken-keeping and your videos are so helpful, thank you! We've followed your advice and have approx. 3inches hardwood wood chip directly on earth. The soil is quite soft and so we're concerned about it turning into a mud bath with the weather so damp at the moment. The run is covered due to avian flu, if we wash the woodchip through at night, will it be alright for the girls in the morning (not too damp)? Thank you!

[@wendydean1025]

Thats what I was planning to do. Despite being covered the wood chips are damp anyway so I dont see a problem. I think as long as there is plenty of ventilation they should be fine.

[@nashwaran473]

Phill I made my cage with 4sm area of sheltered run and using wood chips for the base. Sitting on thick poly sheet

[@voygirl1954]

How do you feel about using dry leaves in the run? I have plenty of those and they're free.

[@momentsofagatha3838]

Oh god don't do it ! I did it and it just turns into an unmovable block of slime. It's awful

[@winkfinkerstien1957]

Thank you and cheers from Texas, USA. 😎👍🏻

[@DarrylHart]

Thoughts on taking a rotovator in the run? Properly mix up the soil the replace with more wood chip?

[@b.learning7154]

Another great video full of information. One question though. My chickens have a outside area and an inside area. The inside area has a cement floor. Instead of using Wood chippings could I use materials that I collect from my gardening jobs, such as Dried Rosemary, Lavender and Marjoram clippings? As well as various dry grasses and weeds? I emphasis the dryness because I live in a hot climate and they really are dry.

[@mdouglas6578]

This method is something I would not recommend. It may help with odor but walking on wood chips all day will make their feet more susceptible to foot injuries such as Bumblefoot. A wonderful alternative is using good ol contractors sand (NOT play sand) 6-8″ deep is ideal for drainage, however if your run is in an area that tends to be consistently soggy, you may consider adding 2" of gravel down before adding the sand. Their feet stay healthy, it keeps their nails trimmed and they can dust bathe anytime!

[@phillipweymouth430]

Thank you for your comment, all views are welcome. In this series of videos I try to communicate what I have found to be best after fifty years of poultry keeping. I have to say that I am not fond of the sand bedding method as I found that it encouraged anerobic bacterial breakdown as the sand gets quickly clogged and is not easy to clean. With woodchip, the birds turn it over well with their scratching which aerates the substrate thus encouraging aerobic breakdown which is more efficient and a lot less smelly. I keep a range of birds from Pekin Bantams to large Brahmas and have not found bumblefoot to be ever an issue. Sand works well with cows as the poo can be scraped from the surface without being dug in. If anyone has a different method that works well for them I say go for it. I merely present the method that I find works best for me. :)

[@RJ-iv6dv]

Hi Phill, great video. At 5:40 you suggest hosing down the woodchip once per month. I'm planning a 2m x 3m run for 5-6 birds, and I was considering leaving it uncovered. I will put woodchip down on the floor, and rely on the rain to help droppings drain through to the underlying soil. Do you think this is a good idea? Or should I be covering the run and hosing it once a month instead? (I will of course ensure the chickens have shelter - I'm thinking a large coffee table or similar that they can get underneath, which I will move around the run periodically).

[@phillipweymouth430]

Dear RB. Do not forget that during current Avian Flu crisis the run should be covered to prevent wild bird poo from entering it and contaminating the ground. At other more normal times i have my runs open to the elements to allow the rain to help clean the wood chip. during the year it may be worth hosing it down occasionally. Happy Christmas and New Year.

[@RJ-iv6dv]

@@phillipweymouth430 that's great thanks! Yes, I will build in the option for a tarp roof in times of avian influenza.

[@jenniferfischer7171]

I’m looking for a comparable product from the US. Would playground wood chips be that same kind of product?

[@flytesofancy]

Hi Jennifer, I couldn't say for certain, but what you need to look for is screened wood chippings, which play grade woodchip usually is. And you also want to make sure that it is hard wood, and not mixed, as any softwood or bark will deteriorate very quickly :)

[@staciedunkley3787]

I have the flytesofancy hard wood chip on top of slabs on my run, I've only had the chickens since Saturday and it's already getting smelly and attracting flies, I've been turning it with a fork but there seems to be layer of food and muck underneath. Any tips?

[@phillipweymouth430]

Dear Stacie, We do recommend that the wood chip goes on earth rather than slabs. How many hens have you got in what size run?

[@alfiemarsh1774]

Hi flyte so fancy, Could you recommend me a geotextile membrane I can't seem to find an ideal one? Many thanks, Alfie

[@flytesofancy]

Dear Alfie, we strongly recommend that a geotextile membrane is not used. The problem is that the membrane lets water through but not chicken poo so after a couple of months you get a layer of slime on the top of the membrane which stops it draining and makes it stink. You are far better off putting a good layer of woodchip on top of the earth, the worms and bugs will then still do their jobs of breaking down the waste and the chickens dig around for the bugs.

[@alfiemarsh1774]

@@flytesofancy Thankyou for your reply, I will do as you say and put a good layer of wood chippings on. Many thanks, Alfie

[@nashwaran473]

How can I make less smelly going forward please help me

[@flytesofancy]

The best thing would be to remove the poly sheet under the woodchip as this will pool any water and muck

[@nashwaran473]

@@flytesofancy thanks for your advise Since there is a rain proof roof shelter over I thought on longer run it will keep the raised wood flooring base dry

[@tammyhart1231]

Very helpful. Thank you!!

[@Jan-wv7rk]

Great video! thanks a bunch! very helpful info.

[@flytesofancy]

Thanks, always nice to know other peoples reactions.

[@IandiBoats]

What about mosquitoes?

[@zerodairyrequired7282]

I need your sanitizer where can I buy it

[@flytesofancy]

Go to www.flytesofancy.co.uk and you can order on line, we will deliver next working day.

[@flytesofancy]

From us at www.flytesofancy.co.uk www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/Flyte-Coop-Run-Sanitising-Powder.html

[@nashwaran473]

I only have 4 of 5 weeks old babies chic and only a week old

[@robinmosler8767]

I thought you said rubber chickens 🤪😜😂

[@foxtrot1494]

Coulda swore you said use rubber chickens....

[@flytesofancy]

🤣 Well it would certainly prevent the mess...

[@foxtrot1494]

@@flytesofancy lol ...im picturing a floor full of honking rubber chickens lol

[@jscenr]

I’d love to see a video where someone isn’t selling something that works so great....

[@AnneWeymouth]

We try our best to be informative without being too " selly " but at the end of the day that is our business so we hope we strike a reasonable balance.