Cold weather question....

[ThinkingChickens]

So, my girls are all of laying age and older and they have a large walk in run. Sadly the tarp isn't doing the best job so much of the run sand has gotten wet. The coops are dry and I have several things the girls can get up on from gate sections to ladders and such. Or, if they were wanting they could go in their coops. Is this going to be a big problem? I hadn't been locking the girls in the run but they seem to be a tad more flighy lately and I saw a couple raccoon (one of which attacked my neighbors dog) so I wanted them locked in for a bit. In spring we'll be redoing the run roof with corrogated paneling but until then, as long as they have a dry space to go to, will they be okay with some wet sand?

 

[CheerioLounge]

If they are anything like my girls, they will be thrilled! The most exciting thing I can do for my girls is to make a puddle in the run!! They love it!! They scratch around in it and in the summer they dustbathe in the wet sand.

 

[moetrout]

My run floods some when it rains. I guess that is what happens when you dig a hole in clay and fill it with sand. Funny thing about chickens, they don't care about much of anything. Many of the quesitons on here about runs, coups, and the cold are more because we feel bad for them, but they're chickens and don't care. So who are the silly ones???

 

[elmo]

The only bad thing is that wet plus chicken poop equals stink. And it's harder to scoop droppings out of wet sand than from dry sand.

 

[moetrout]

That's why you rake when it is dry.

 

[ThinkingChickens]

Quote:
This is true! I find that I'm taking up a little extra sand. The only good thing is my neighbors have about 10 tons of sand (where we got our sand initially) that they'd love for us to keep taking. Ha ha. They're turning their pool size sandbox into a raised vegetable garden.

I was worried about their feet getting too cold. They have me wrapped around their little toes I'm telling you!