How to make run more fun?

[angie_02]

Okay I thought I remembered cedar being the one to avoid. And yes we added a run off of this.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

Make a dusty corner for dust bathing and some straw for scratching... That keeps mine busy for hours. As long as there is both shade and sunshine in the run all day there is no need for a tarp. Chickens love to roost absolutely everywhere so do what you can!

 

[chicks are life]

Definantly use sand or chips the one run is covers so what are the dimensions to the other new half?
Do you have any other chickens except the newest ones?

 

[chicks are life]

Don't add straw with chips they will get all messy and nasty and moldy and you will have to get more chips.

 

[chicks are life]

Agreed with the sandy corner.

 

[chicks are life]

You could put the sand in a bin in the corner.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Chickens do enjoy having roosts or other things to climb on in a run. Shade is a very good idea especially if you are in an area that gets hot or very sunny. And a dust bath is also appreciated (or give them space to make one of their own.)

As far as cleaning and run materials, you'll likely get a wide variety of answers. I use pine and aspen shavings in my nestbox and coop, my run is some leaf and plant litter (not quite "deep" litter, I am working on that still) and I've managed to regrow a little grass in part of it. I don't really clean my run much, I scoop up poop on occasion and rake if it gets nasty.

 

[angie_02]

Definantly use sand or chips the one run is covers so what are the dimensions to the other new half?
Do you have any other chickens except the newest ones?

The run under the coop area is all dirt now that they like to dust bathe in. The run we built off of that I don't know the semi skins off the top of my head but I can get some pictures tomorrow. We are working to improve it both with the advice you've all given me and security wise. And all the chickens we have are the six

 

[chicks are life]

Okay add a lip of wood to the bottom of the coop which will keep dirt in and wood chips out and you have got a dust bathing spot.
The other run should be good without a tarp on. That way they get sun and shade.

 

[chicks are life]

I will send pics tommarow but I gotta go.