First rainy night. Not prepared!

[MichelleMaha]

This is my 9th day as a chicken owner and the first day it has rained. We have a run enclosed with fencing and covered with chicken wire. I covered half of the run with tarp, but realized tonight after it started raining that it's pretty haphazardly done, and pooling in spots. I found some long poles in our garage and used them to push the tarp up in the hopes the rain will find its way off the tarp without busting the chicken wire. My husband agreed to roof the run later this year, before winter comes. Hopefully I'll figure out a better plan for the tarp before then. Luckily my girls are nice and warm and dry in their coop for the night. Tomorrow is supposed to be another rainy day. Should be interesting! Thanks for listening to my vent!!!! Any tips or ideas anyone has would be greatly appreciated!!!! I'm thinking as I write this that maybe just some plywood might be a good idea,.......

 

[Markk058]

No need for panic. You don't say how many you have, how old they are, what breed (guess), where you are, especially altitude. If they're fully feathered, they can withstand a lot of rain as long as it's not cold rain and they have shelter to dry and huddle.
Be PROACTIVE about raising and caring for chickens. You sound like you're a little REACTIVE, which may only mean you haven't done enough homework, but could bode worse if your idea of raising chickens chickens proves to be a whimsy.

 

[crk mayo]

Sand is cheaper than ply , cover the run floor with sand , stops the slop , easy to clean , hens love it for dust bath and grit . and it keeps them happy scratching and digging .bark chippings goes to mush and when its dry its hard on there feet and makes there feet swell

 

[MichelleMaha]

Thank you for your replies!! Yes, I did sound rather reactive, didn't I!:/

To answer your questions, I live in New England and I have six 25 week old RI red hybrids. I did my homework regarding everything concerning these hens except thinking through a proper roof to cover a section of the run. My reference to plywood was not for the run floor. I was thinking I could place it on the roof of the run temporarily. But I'm happy to say that after 24 hours of rain, my tarp - with the added supports- held up just fine and the girls had a dry section of the run and the coop, to hang out in all day. And the uncovered section of the run held up well. The dirt drained well and is not a sloppy mess. So I'm in better shape than I thought.

Thanks again!!!!