Help me enjoy my chickens again by solving my coop and run issues!

When i was setting up my run this was the biggest problem i saw when looking on all the forums. Everyone has a different opinion but i have found that this works really well. I made a concrete slab for the run to sit on with groves in it for drainage. Its raised about 6 inches above the ground but its fantastic. It stops water sitting in the run and stops any predators digging underneath. The chickens do not like standing on concrete so on top of that i use hardwood chips which is a lot better for their feet, stops them standing in water and give them something to scratch around in. It sounds like a lot of work but it does not take long (less than a day) It didn't cost a lot to do and it is a proper permanent solution. Mine also have about 3 hours a day to free range, and thats when they take dust baths and stuff so if yours don't you will need to put a dust bath in the run. Hope this helps

 

Maybe this idea is just a short term solution.....but get a pop up canopy (Costco?) with walls to erect over the whole thing. Maybe 10'x 10' or so...open the curtains/walls on nice days. This will keep them a lot dryer obviously, which will help with the litter...... but will still let in enough air for ventilation to get rid of the ammonia buildup.
If you can build them a taller run, big enough to stand up in and enough room for them not to have issues from being in such a small area....I think you all would be happier. Give them more room somehow, 4 large fowl need space. I like all the hardware cloth you used, that's really good!

 

Unfortunately, I think much of your problems arise from how little space your chickens have. Deep litter relies on a natural composting action. In a small space the poop builds up faster than it can break down. In order to effectively use DL method there has to be enough material in the run. From the pictures, it looks like there isn't too much height to your run to begin with so I'd wager that your pine chips weren't deep enough. (You were using pine chips and not pine shavings, correct? )

I'm not a fan of sand. Let's just say that the problem you had with sand is common. It's also more likely in a wetter climate and in an uncovered run. It probably didn't help that your poop output to square footage ratio is high.

I would expand your run and give your birds more room. Preferably make it a covered run and one you can walk in to perform maintenance and cleaning. If no expansion is possible then I suggest that you modify your existing run. If it were me, I'd build a frame using landscaping timbers that was the same dimension as your run. Kind of like a big raised garden bed. I'd fill it half full with wood chips, dried grass, and leaves. Then I'd sit your run on top of it. Add more stuff periodically as needed. When it gets full empty it out and start over.

 

Oops. I didn't address your problem of moisture. With a deeper base of DL the run will be able to handle some rain. I would try to rig up some kind of roof for the run. It doesn't have to be elaborate to do the job but you will want it sturdy enough to withstand winter conditions.

 

From the pictures it looks like the run is way too small - I'm guessing the run is maybe 8x2 or 8x3? I would at least double what you currently have, and give them a little more height as well. The general rule is 10 sq feet per chicken in the run, 4 sq feet in the coop. When the weather gets bad, I think your coop is going to be too small for them as well, especially if it's snowing/sleeting and they stay inside.

Definitely find a way to cover the entire run - dry is better and will keep the smell down. If you can cover it, I would recommend PDZ in the coop and entire run. The pdz will be fine in the winter...you just need to keep it dry for it to work. It takes me less than 5 minutes each day to use a sifter to clean an 8x10 coop and a 10x20 run with the pdz. Pdz will also keep their feet clean, so when the kids are handling the chickens they'll be less chance of poopy feet. Pdz is great because it takes the moisture out of the poop, almost making it into a rock. Flies won't mess with it when its dry. It also absorbs ammonia, so no smell as well.

I would also suggest a wind break for the winter winds - block off the north and west sides at a minimum.

Also just noticed that your patio is higher than the run - I'm guessing any water that hits that patio is going to drain towards the run, keeping it wet/moist.

Do you have a plan yet for water in the winter? Looks like you have a small pvc line and nipples above the run and those are going to freeze. We use a cooler/nipple system in the summer and then switch to a heated dog bowl in winter...works well for us.

I would also cover the feeder - looks like it's exposed right now so if it rains the feed will get wet...you don't want moldy feed.

I think picture 5 is the nest boxes...you absolutely need wood shavings or straw in there. Chickens will actually stand up at the last minute when they lay an egg, so if you've got nothing there to cushion the fall that's most likely why you're getting cracked eggs. In our new coop we used kitty litter trays filled with pine shavings for nest boxes...works really well and if I need to clean one out I simply remove the tray, change out the shavings, and put back in. The wood of nest box never gets dirty this way and makes cleanup a snap.

Not trying to be too critical here but keep in mind this is all a learning process. We had a MUCH smaller coop for the first two years and I learned what worked and what didn't work. I kept a list and then built a MUCH LARGER coop/run that incorporated changes for everything I didn't like about the smaller coop.

Space + dry + draft free (with good ventilation) = happy chickens!

 

The others have given some good ideas

There is no way to not increase the size of that run, it is just large enough for one standard sized chook as it is.

The water issue could be handled by installing a French drain right next to the patio, this will need to be designed so it carries water away from the run (the further the better). you could increase the effectiveness of that drain if you also raised the floor of the run, some boards and fill dirt would go a long way to keeping the run dryer.

When people usually speak of the minimum, space wise, they are usually thinking of medium size birds, large birds need at least 12 sq. ft. per each in the run. We use 12 sq. feet per bird in a covered run (6.5 feet high) and 6 sq. ft. inside the coop, not counting nest boxes (we have large birds). Our birds also get to free range when we are home, but the little bit of extra space helps them not get into pecking wars while we are away. We have an open top that has criss crossing wires to keep the hawks out (faster, easier and cheaper than putting up chicken wire or some other wire top). We have a roof over half of the out door fenced in run to give them outside access in rain or snow too. Our birds are locked in just before dusk to deter night time predators.

Bantams need less space, so using the "normal" space recommendations with these birds works out great.

Giving them more height in the run gives them vertical space. If you put in things like roost poles, swings, ledges, they can make use of vertical space and that means you could go with a smallish foot print, if you have to.

 

Howdy neighbor! I'm just a few hrs away in Western Wisconsin. This rain has taken a toll on our feathered friends feet and coop as well. We covered our run with tarp and put down wood chips which has helped tremendously! Have you considered a dog kennel to give you extra run space? There are some nice covered ones which I think may help with the mess.