What to have on floor of run?

[MerelyPlaying]

I'm just getting back into chicken-keeping after a break of a few years, during which I moved house, so I've got a new set-up. I have got a free-standing run on paving slabs, which were already there. They'll get some free-ranging time, but mostly in the run because of the fox risk, and I'm planning to put a thick layer of woodchip on the floor.

I was going to lift a few of the slabs so there's earth in the middle, but a friend suggested it would be easier to clean out if it's just slabs and plenty of woodchip.

I seem to recall I had pavers in a rectangle where the run stood before, and earth in the middle - however I do also remember it getting very muddy in winter and being hard work to clean. What do you think, if they had a tub of earth to dustbath in and get some time outside each day, would it be ok with the paving slabs as a base?

Don’t you have to be careful with bark as it can cause respiratory problems. I’d need to check, but for this reason I used to use straw on the paving slabs. And a good clean out once a month of all the straw and droppings, was fabulous for the compost heap.
love chickens so much

I have bare earth, which I cover with a thick layer of straw in the winter. Obviously, the chickens manage to scratch through to the soil in places, but that's fine. The straw is really there to stop the whole run from turning into a mire, which it does. Paving wouldn't help so much with that, and hens really love to scratch in the dirt. There are no foxes here, so no concern about anything digging under the fence. Paving might be useful around the edges at least, to help stop the digging.

My intention aas to help, but what I actually wrote was more "Umm, dunno!" Sorry about that!

don't forget they will almost certainly have to stay in the run for at least part of the year because of avian flu lockdown (you also need to register now even with only a couple, if you didn't know) so they will need to be able to scratch around in there or have something else to amuse them.

Thanks - yes, registration has come in since I last had hens, I am holding off until they actually arrive next week. I am concerned that they have enough to do, so I know they'll need plenty to scratch in. I'm thinking of hanging up some stuff as well to keep them busy, I used to use a bird feeder with veg scraps in. (And yes, I know you are not supposed to feed kitchen waste .... 🙄)

I'm thinking of chipped wood from a tree surgeon, not bark like you put on the borders, I have used it in the past without problems but I'll look into that. Haven't managed to source any yet so it may end up with straw instead anyway.

The first avian flu lockdown was miserable, I remember it being very wet and the poor chooks were paddling in mud, I am keen not to go back to that! I fully expect that a lot of the year they will have to be confined, a shame but that's the way it is going to be now.

Thank you for the responses, it's only been four years but I feel a little rusty.