I have a run question, please

[Mianna]

I think I want to use sand in half of the 10x10 run and leaving the other half dirt/leaves. The coop is going to be on the sand half, elevated a few inches since we have serious rain sometimes and I don't want them having to wade around in muck. Would the bare dirt section be okay? We have very little grass back there, but a lot of fallen leaves and pine needles, so I was thinking they might enjoy scratching around in that.

Also, our back yard is completely shaded by a huge oak tree, so I'm not sure if I need to put a tarp over the top of the run for shade or if it'd be better to leave it open. The top will be covered by wire mesh to keep the local hawks out, and I'm worried that a tarp would just get shredded during our rainy/windy season. I'd love to eventually put rigid roofiing panels up, but I've run over budget on other things already, so that'll have to wait. I'll be planting Vigna Caracalla vines on the east side of the run, with the base of the vines several inches away from the wire and then growing up cables attached to the run. The idea there is to let the vines provide a privacy screen and windbreak of sorts during nasty weather.

I'm definitely open to corrections and suggestions since this is my first time, so if you see anything that sounds like a dumb idea, please let me know! =)

Thanks!

 

[Judy]

I imagine the shade of the tree will be fine. In the south they need shade and breeze to survive the heat. I don't see what purpose a tarp would serve in your case, especially since chickens often are outdoors in the rain, unless it's really heavy.

They would enjoy scratching around in leaves and such, but a wet run that stays wet is not a good idea, and raising the run a bit with sand (with barriers to hold it in place) is one way to solve that problem. Maybe something in this link will help you.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-fix-a-muddy-run-chicken-coop

 

[Ridgerunner]

In St. Pete they do need shade. That tree might be enough. I haven’t seen it in summer. As you obviously know you’ll get wind. I’d have some concerns on wind force with a solid surface for the wind to hit. You’d need to make the run plenty strong to stand up to your afternoon thunderstorms if you give the wind a solid surface to hit, even on top.

If you do need more shade, you might get more by putting a sunscreen of some type on the south or west side of the run instead of on top. It depends on how your run is situated. My 12’ wide run is oriented north-south with part of it covered in scrap roofing metal. That roof doesn’t provide much shade during the afternoons. Sunlight comes in from the west side.

I agree with raising the level of the entire thing with contained sand. A wet run is a dangerous run from a disease viewpoint. I think you’ll find they would scratch the sand down to the low point anyway. Might as well put your barrier around the whole thing and adding enough sand so it will drain to start with. They’ll still love scratching and taking dust baths in there.

 

[aart]

Might want to think about elevating the coop up 18" or giving the more room and to eliminate anything nesting under there.

 

[joan1708]

sounds like you have a good plan, but, you guys get such torrential rain in the summer (of course, I know you know that). I guess they can go in when it rains. Hooray for big oak trees! such a blessing in the south!

 

[Mianna]

Hmm, the run design includes a 3" tall border all around the bottom, and I thought that might be enough extra elevation to let rain drain off into the rest of the yard once it's filled with 1/2 sand and 1/2 dirt. If I need to add a border of 1x6" PT lumber, I can definitely do that.

The elevation for the coop itself is going to be a frame of 12"tall x12"wide x4" tall retaining wall blocks with a hardware cloth base under the bricks, then a deep layer of sand to cover the wire and bring the "floor" level up above the elevation of the run. Now that I'm thinking about it, would I be better off adding a layer of coarse gravel or rock chips on top of the hardware cloth and then the sand? I want the floor to both keep predators from digging in and to shed water in case of an especially heavy rain.

Also, for the roof/shade question: most of the sun exposure in the back yard is from the east in the morning, the other trees in the neighbor's yard block the evening sun from the west, and the midday sun through the canopy of my oak is only tiny dapples of light. I'm going to grow the screen of morning glories up the east side of the run for a windblock and for extra shade from that morning sun, as it gets hot very early during the summer and I want to make absolutely sure they have enough shade. You guys are dead-on about solid roofs, that's what made me shy away from the tarp, so I wonder if a faux thatch roof would work. I know how to braid palm fronds, and they could be laid side by side on top for a rain break over part of the run. If it's especially windy, they'll blow off and it won't be a big deal since we have a never ending supply of fronds to remake the thatch.

I've included a ton of ventilation in the design of the coop itself, at the expense of leaving it more open to rain during the crazy summer monsoons, so I'm just worried about making sure that they're cool enough and dry enough. It doesn't help that these will be my first chickens ever, so I'm nervous and worried that I'll goof something up, which makes me ask a ton of questions.

Thank you for the help and guidance!

 

[joan1708]

I put little side roofs on my coop to keep the driving rain out. this is a picture of it before I added the "front door". I've used it for a year and it has stayed dry. (It is also in a protected pocket of the yard).
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