Outdoor chicken run

[janie's silkies]

I lined my outdoor chicken coop last winter with straw bales and covered the wire on top with heavy plastic for the winter, it worked very well in giving the chickens some place to scratch. The straw has turned pretty moldy and I am going to take it out but the chickens love to jump on it. Should I replace a couple of bales for the summer or is it going to get moldy quickly with no cover on the top?

 

[Den in Penn]

As you are seeing the straw is breaking down. It will compost like that if it gets wet. It would have to be protected all the way around to stop it. If you want some place for the chickens to jump on, I would get something more permanent. Maybe an old stump or crate or something.