hay in the run

[CraziChickLady]

ok i have a quick question, new to owning chickens and just thought i would ask about this. i got a bail of hay and put it in my chicken run and they love it! they scratch at it and lay on it, my question is, what happens if it gets wet, the run is covered but rain can still get in thru the sides , i dont want them laying on it if its wet, should i get rid of the old hay and get new hay?

Also..kinda off subject lol but i have a coop with the nest box connected to the side and my girls are around 5 months old so they havent stared laying yet. Soon i hope. but when they go to bed at night they sleep in what is supose to be there nest box! what do i do?

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

I use straw or hay in my uncovered run, there has never been a problem with it being wet.

Block off the boxes until they start laying, that way they will get used to sleeping on the perches instead. You do not need to open them until you start seeing eggs.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Hi and from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard. Do they have a roost to get on at night?It should be higher than the nest box. You might have to physically put them on it at night so that they get the idea. In regards to the hay, I wouldn't use it outside. It is going to become a mess when it gets wet and very hard to clean up. I use sand in my run. t

 

[jbirds2012]

 

[Big A Chickens]

Hi and

So glad you joined us!!!

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC

Glad you joined us!

 

[Red Barn Farms]

Hello and welcome to BYC from Kentucky! So happy you joined.

 

[happy call duck]

Hello and welcome, I have just started a few monthe ago. i did have roost's but my girls don't use them they all go to sleep in the hay i have put down for them, is this a bad thing as they seem very happy

 

[weimarmama]

& from Alabama. Glad you joined us.

 

[harveyhorses]

Hi, welcome! it sounds like you left it as a whole bale? I give mine a flake or two when they can't go out and free range, it can get messy
when it gets wet, but I don't think it is that hard to clean up. I am not using it for flooring, just to keep them from being too bored.
I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine!