Is there an advantage to having both a covered and uncovered run?

[User395221]

An uncovered, wet run without some sort of litter or covering over bare soil can get pretty nasty.

I add (hardwood) bark chips, it really helps with drainage and they take ages to break down, so you aren't constantly having to top up.

 

[Birdinhand]

Ah, this is very relevant advice given we are so close to each other location wise. That makes total sense about creating a microbe breeding ground. What did you end up using to cover your run, and since it is covered, do you just leave it dirt, or do you still have some sort of litter management?

I framed out the coop and run and enveloped the whole thing in 1/2" hardware cloth, the best deal I've found is at Portage Bay Grange in the University district, they have the thick galvanized stuff and sell it by the 4'x48"x100' roll or by the foot. I use decking screws and washers as turnbuckles to get the HW cloth nice and night before nailing down with Fencing nails/"U"nails. for the roof I use the corrugated, fiber glass reinforced, translucent roofing. Lowe's has the best option in this regard. I like the translucent version because allowing light in during the winter really helps them get through the winter up north here: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Sequentia-26-in-x-12-ft-Corrugated-Fiberglass-Roof-Panel/3050391

for the Litter, I've experimented quite a bit and they seem to do best on a rock/pebble free dirt base that is a bit sandy. I have thrown in features, stair stepped due to slope, added a chicken swing, places to fly up and rest etc. I do a variation of the deep litter method. if the droppings stay dry and you have enough surface area per bird (which you do), the droppings get broken down and eventually get turned into the substrate and eventually turn to dust. this happens at a rate that is adequate to keep the ammonia/smell to pretty much zero and the birds are happy, and requires removing some of the substrate about once a year, just to keep the level down. for the inner coop/roost, I use a good 6-8" of "mulch" (dirt/wood chips/loam). the hens spend some time every day up in the inner coop turning the soil and that keeps it mulching and reasonably good air quality with the side benefit being, virtually no maintenance, maybe once every 3-6 months swapping out the substrate and composting it, which makes amazing compost for the garden and fruit trees." my roost/inner coop is up off the ground and lined with shower stall liner for easy cleaning and wood protection.

for waterers, I find it's important to keep things dry and clean. the brand waterer that has the best nipples and the best UV transparent bucket (for easy monitoring and no algae) is this one: http://www.atwoods.com/poultry-feeders-watering/cheery-chicks-chicken-kooler-35-gallon.htm. you can pick it up locally at https://www.kisfarm.com/, which is worth a visit if you have never been, it's kind of a mind bogglingly cool farm/store. I made some calls around and got to the guy who designed the chicken Kooler, he claims to be the originator of the water nipple system for chickens in the US, IDK if that is true, but he says that he found the best nipple waterers that don't leak and most everyone else uses a cheap version that leaks, hence the development of the Horizontal version. In any case, I've used 5 different brands/styles of waterers (a couple brands of nipple waterers) over the years and this one has been the best, no stink and muck under the waterer, mine stays dry and I have several of them (I grow out meat birds twice a year to feed my family of 4 as well as have 6 egg layer hens). he recommended using this water heater https://www.amazon.com/Allied-Preci...-fkmr0&keywords=heated+bucket+poultry+drinker . it has worked great through the coldest part of the winter here. if you don't protect the nipples from freezing, they will eventually start leaking.

well, there you go, there's my brain dump, just figured since you are local that I would give you more than usual detail. this climate has it's challenges, it's dark, damp and cold for the fall/winter/spring months. here is my coop for reference, i used retaining wall bricks because of the steep slope, which I needed to terrace and hold back anyway.

 

[aart]

An uncovered, wet run without some sort of litter or covering over bare soil can get pretty nasty. For that reason I recommend using some form of deep litter with varied sizes of materials which will allow for drainage and also give the chickens something to dig through and occupy themselves with. My run is not at all stinky or mucky since I improved on the mix of litter and the chickens are content to spend hours digging around and making/unmaking piles of litter. Even after the worst of rain I just go and kick any piled up litter into any small puddles and it's safe for the chickens to walk on.

Ditto Dat!!^^^

Actually a good mixed litter in both covered and uncovered runs is a good idea.
I'd leave one uncovered.... can always cover it later, right?

@Chad Oftedal how's the drainage in the surrounding areas?
Any puddling in run areas after a good hard rain?
Think about run off from the roof run too.

 

[pennyJo1960]

so the net I was referring to is not super expensive but will do the trick very nicely
@Chad Oftedal
Baikalo 50' X 50' Net Netting for Bird Poultry Aviary Game Pens New 2.4" Square Mesh Size

 

[Hopperkiller]

How about covering the sceond run with that greenhouse or light penetrating roofing and give them a option? I like the amount of run space you are providing. Overthinking things gives you more options and drives my wife nuts. Saves time in the long run.

 

[Chad Oftedal]

Ditto Dat!!^^^

Actually a good mixed litter in both covered and uncovered runs is a good idea.
I'd leave one uncovered.... can always cover it later, right?

@Chad Oftedal how's the drainage in the surrounding areas?
Any puddling in run areas after a good hard rain?
Think about run off from the roof run too.

I've attached some pictures of the area and the layout that I had planned. This space used to be pretty sloped, and I just had a retaining wall built to make a level spot behind my shop to hold the coop and run(s). I haven't had heavy rains on it yet, but I expect it to drain without issues. Being that it was already an elevated area on my property, I didn't notice any standing water issues there.

 

[Chad Oftedal]

How about covering the sceond run with that greenhouse or light penetrating roofing and give them a option? I like the amount of run space you are providing. Overthinking things gives you more options and drives my wife nuts. Saves time in the long run.

Funny you should mention that corrugated roofing because I just looked that up last night, and if I do cover, that is exactly what I plan to use. I think it could be a very good compromise of keeping dry, but yet letting light in.

 

[Chad Oftedal]

so the net I was referring to is not super expensive but will do the trick very nicely
@Chad Oftedal
Baikalo 50' X 50' Net Netting for Bird Poultry Aviary Game Pens New 2.4" Square Mesh Size

Thanks! I hadn't looked into netting yet, so I appreciate the info. I had thought I might have to do hardware cloth as well, but the more I read, that might not be the case as I see netting is a popular option.

 

[Chad Oftedal]

I framed out the coop and run and enveloped the whole thing in 1/2" hardware cloth, the best deal I've found is at Portage Bay Grange in the University district, they have the thick galvanized stuff and sell it by the 4'x48"x100' roll or by the foot. I use decking screws and washers as turnbuckles to get the HW cloth nice and night before nailing down with Fencing nails/"U"nails. for the roof I use the corrugated, fiber glass reinforced, translucent roofing. Lowe's has the best option in this regard. I like the translucent version because allowing light in during the winter really helps them get through the winter up north here: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Sequentia-26-in-x-12-ft-Corrugated-Fiberglass-Roof-Panel/3050391

for the Litter, I've experimented quite a bit and they seem to do best on a rock/pebble free dirt base that is a bit sandy. I have thrown in features, stair stepped due to slope, added a chicken swing, places to fly up and rest etc. I do a variation of the deep litter method. if the droppings stay dry and you have enough surface area per bird (which you do), the droppings get broken down and eventually get turned into the substrate and eventually turn to dust. this happens at a rate that is adequate to keep the ammonia/smell to pretty much zero and the birds are happy, and requires removing some of the substrate about once a year, just to keep the level down. for the inner coop/roost, I use a good 6-8" of "mulch" (dirt/wood chips/loam). the hens spend some time every day up in the inner coop turning the soil and that keeps it mulching and reasonably good air quality with the side benefit being, virtually no maintenance, maybe once every 3-6 months swapping out the substrate and composting it, which makes amazing compost for the garden and fruit trees." my roost/inner coop is up off the ground and lined with shower stall liner for easy cleaning and wood protection.

for waterers, I find it's important to keep things dry and clean. the brand waterer that has the best nipples and the best UV transparent bucket (for easy monitoring and no algae) is this one: http://www.atwoods.com/poultry-feeders-watering/cheery-chicks-chicken-kooler-35-gallon.htm. you can pick it up locally at https://www.kisfarm.com/, which is worth a visit if you have never been, it's kind of a mind bogglingly cool farm/store. I made some calls around and got to the guy who designed the chicken Kooler, he claims to be the originator of the water nipple system for chickens in the US, IDK if that is true, but he says that he found the best nipple waterers that don't leak and most everyone else uses a cheap version that leaks, hence the development of the Horizontal version. In any case, I've used 5 different brands/styles of waterers (a couple brands of nipple waterers) over the years and this one has been the best, no stink and muck under the waterer, mine stays dry and I have several of them (I grow out meat birds twice a year to feed my family of 4 as well as have 6 egg layer hens). he recommended using this water heater https://www.amazon.com/Allied-Preci...-fkmr0&keywords=heated+bucket+poultry+drinker . it has worked great through the coldest part of the winter here. if you don't protect the nipples from freezing, they will eventually start leaking.

well, there you go, there's my brain dump, just figured since you are local that I would give you more than usual detail. this climate has it's challenges, it's dark, damp and cold for the fall/winter/spring months. here is my coop for reference, i used retaining wall bricks because of the steep slope, which I needed to terrace and hold back anyway. View attachment 1262743

Thank you for all this great information! The farm is probably less than 4 miles from where I live, so I will definitely have to check them out. I'm lucky enough that my work isn't far from Portage Bay Grange, so it'll be easy to stop by there. I have been by there once so far to check things out. Very nice people. I hadn't settled on a waterer yet, so really appreciate the recommendation. Thanks again!

 

[Hopperkiller]

Funny you should mention that corrugated roofing because I just looked that up last night, and if I do cover, that is exactly what I plan to use. I think it could be a very good compromise of keeping dry, but yet letting light in.

Yes but. Don't use ondura roofing. A small hailstorm knocked holes , and caused cracks and my place. .leaked all over.