Backyard Fowl Keepers

I thought I outsmarted the rats... but theyre proving relentless! Because of my setup, putting an apron around my run wasnt an option, so last summer, I covered the entire run floor with hardware cloth and added about 4 inches of soil on top. It workeduntil winter hit.

Now, the frozen ground has pushed the soil away, and the hardware cloth is basically at the surface, making for a rough landing when my chickens hop down from the roost. My first thought was to just add more dirt, but before I do, is there a better solution? Would laying down a weed barrier before adding soil help? Or should I use something else, like mulch or straw?

Id love any advice. Thanks in advance!

Instead of a weed barrier, consider putting down a thick layer of straw or wood chips. It'll cushion the landing and help with drainage.

A weed barrier might help temporarily, but it won't stop shifting. Instead, try a mix of sand and deep litter like wood chips or straw. Sand drains well, while deep litter insulates and cushions. You could also frame the run with timbers to help keep material in place.

You might want to try sand. It drains well, doesn't compact as much as soil, and stays drier in winter, reducing shifting issues.

I'd be cautious about just adding soil because it could compact and cause drainage issues. A good alternative is pine shavings or straw,both are soft for the chickens and won't shift as much with freezing and thawing. Also, make sure the rats haven't found a way in elsewhere before investing more time and money!

Adding more soil could work, but mulch or deep litter might be a better long-term fix. They'll insulate the ground and prevent future shifting.

A thick layer of mulch might solve both your cushioning and rat issues,it discourages burrowing while keeping the ground soft. Win-win!

Before adding anything, check for rat activity,if they're still around, trapping and removing them should be the first step. After that, I'd suggest a combination of sand for drainage and mulch or deep litter for insulation. If you want to use soil, mixing it with compost or mulch can prevent it from compacting.

If your hardware cloth is exposed, rats may try chewing through it. Make sure they aren't sneaking in another way before adding more material.

Deep litter is a great solution! Try layering wood chips, straw, and leaves. It's low maintenance and keeps the run floor soft year-round.