Do chickens make use of covered areas?

[Aunt Angus]

Oh I can visualise that! I also had the wind knock a pallet over onto me which I had leaning up against the run fence.

Oh and the time I went out at 6 am in my nightie, barefoot, when everyone else was still inside asleep, to have the swing handle lock me in the chicken coop. I had to crawl out the pop door, which is 16 inches high by 12 inches wide. Headfirst, and hands first, down about a foot, then on all fours one knee at a time, RIGHT INTO THE MUD AND YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE, just so I could get back to the house.

Lesson learned the hard way that time!

YIKES!

To OP: My run is covered and tarped against the rain. They use the covered area frequently, even when I let them out to free range. It's useful in inclement weather. And they can use it in case of airborne predators.