themantowin
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run flooring This is the thing my coop and run are going to be on a stone patio at the bottom of the garden and I think I’m going to put down wood shavings/sawdust on the floor but gravel I must say is still in the running due to the fact it will look nicer in the run I was wondering what the minimum depth of gravel you can use in the run is.
Also can any one help me come up with some toy/enrichment ideas for the chickens just to give them a bit more enjoyment in life i.e. a suet cage with veg scraps in, or web sites that sell that kid of product I have looked online but I could not find shops that sold that kid of thing
Any help would be appreciated
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bodger
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The best advice that I can give you,is to try and get a roof of some description on your run. Keep the rain out and no matter what floor covering, its going to stay drier and far sweeter smelling. Your chickens will certainly be far happier scratting around in dry stuff than ooze.
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themantowin
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thank you for your post it has a roof over it well most of it i was just woundering if there was a recommended depth of gravel so that the chickens do not slip over on it or sink in to it
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mochyn
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Not sure about gravel but as far as toys go my birds seem to enjoy jumping about on branches. Anything they can scramble about on, really. other than that hanging a cabbage up is good: roots upwards.
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bodger
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You can get toe injuries with gravel and its tricky to keep clean. I'd go for lots of shavings or dry leaves. Its far easier to dig out the latter than the former when it needs replacing.
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RichardW
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I would not use gravel. In the end you will need to clean it out.
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themantowin
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Thank you for the all the replies they have been helpful so it is all right to use fallen leaves as well as shavings/sawdust is there any leaves you can not use due to toxicity or any thing like. Once again I would like to thank you for all the friendly advice that has been posted so for.
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Gervase
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We use bark chippings from the local timber mill. Dirt cheap and they stop the run getting muddy. Whch reminds me, it's that time of year again and I need to get another trailer-load.
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Treacodactyl
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I'd use wood shavings or wood chippings but avoid bark as the spores produced by moulds growing on bark are quite harmful.
The are members who use gravel and hose it down from time to time.
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Supplies for Smallholders
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Have you thought of using sea-shells? They use them nowadays to backfill land drain trenches so are pretty readily available - andd also give the birds a bit of extra calcium if they have a peck at them.
On the boredom-buster side try hanging old CDs or DVDs up at head hight of the birds - keeps them amused for hours.........
Thanks
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bodger
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Shells might be a bit on the sharp side for scratting around in and if they cut their toes, boy will that salt make them wince. 
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Supplies for Smallholders
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Hey these are chickens - they spend their whole day scratting over stones, grit, soil etc - they have feet tougher than.........well tougher than a very tough thing!
But now you mention it - a great new product line in the making - wellies for hens with delicate feet........
Thanks
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bodger
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Go for it SS 
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chicken feed
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we have used sharp (building) sand the chickens love it but i much prefer straw old fashioned i know but they love scratching about and a few hands full of wheat scattered in it will keep them happy for hours
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bodger
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I've mentioned it before but there are lots of free dead leaves to be had at this time of the year.
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LynneA
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We've been using wood shavings and it seems to be working OK. They are inclined to kick them into the drinker, but that would happen anyway, and at least this stuff is fairly clean.
We rake the whole lot out every other week and bag it up to take over to the big compost bin at the allotment.
Any leaves round here are gathered and put in my leaf mould bin. The council this year seem to be gathering them up in builders bags - much harder to swipe than the piddly little bin bags they usually gather them in.
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Frewen Feltmaker
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I used gravel (not pea shingle but a bit larger) and it worked fine; no problems, no injuries and I could hose it down easily so that the muck composted 
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