Please help with my coop and run

[Cellomama2]

I have read so much about different litter methods in the coop and run that I don't even know what would be best anymore and now that we are pretty sure my girls have Marek's is there anything that could be better than something else somehow? I'm working on getting my husband to at least cover the run with tarps for now until we can figure out something more permanent and we are also down to a dirt floor again in the run which is terrible. I was looking into a fine gravel for the run because I've read such mixed things about sand but I don't know if thats the best either for when winter comes around. We also know we need to cut some more windows/vents in the coop since there obviously isn't enough and the chickens sleep by the door at night instead of the roosting bars like they are supposed to. I'm still reading about adding proper ventilation because quite frankly adding more windows/vents but not creating drafts is totally confusing to me. My husband insisted on a flat roof on the coop for cost and ease of assembling I guess which I haven't seen in other coops so I'm not sure where to put the vents. Thoughts on how to make this coop the best it could be, such as a proper flooring for the run and where to put vents in the coop, would be greatly appreciated.

Lots of trees around the coop for shade
We added tarps over the coop recently so the top will completely dry and we can reseal it after we discovered that it was leaking at a couple seems. I'm looking to move those tarps to the top of the run after that.
This is the front right corner of the run just outside the coop.

Back right corner.
Back left corner and I'm standing in the front left corner where the door is but theres nothing interesting up there.
Our coop is in the shape of an L and this is the front that leads into the run. There is a window above where I'm taking the pictures which is also where we will be putting the nest boxes.
This is where we have all the roosting bars and the second window. There is a cleaning door in the back behind the roosting bars and just to the right of where this picture was taken. The windows are actually for kids play houses and they slide open and closed as well as having actual screens. We added the same hardware cloth we have surrounding the run over the entire inside of the windows for safety.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

In your coop shavings works well. You could put a lip on your pop hole to keep the shavings inside the coop. Your run I would do deep litter, which is basically composting in the run. You add organic matter throughout the year, things like fall leaves, hay, grass clippings, pulled weeds, edible food scraps, stuff like that. Throw some scratch on the ground daily to get your birds working the ground for you.

What's going on with your hens? It's not unusual for a bird here and there to come down with Mareks, but it generally doesn't cause them all to get sick.

 

[Kiki]

I agree with the above about the Deep Litter Method. I love it.

You could cut some long 10 inches by 2 inches along the top of the coop and cover then with hardware cloth to add extra ventilation.

I too am wondering what makes you think you have Marek's.
Are you losing birds?
Have you had a necropsy performed?

 

[Cellomama2]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/lose-of-balance-appetite-open-mouth-breathing.1186833/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/mareks.1191085/

The first chicken we lost was a blue wyandotte bantam that i found out side extremely lethargic and breathing slow and long. She had to be euthanized the second night she was inside. Then I found my Easter Egger limping so I brought her in to give her a break and hopefully take her back outside in a day or two. She lasted a month before she couldn't even move enough to get away from her own droppings because her legs were splayed so badly. The second one we lost was an ISA brown who lived with my EE for a couple days after I found her limping outside as well. She was inside for two days and was dead when I checked on her the third morning. This last one was also found out in the run limping, brought her and had to euthanize her a few nights ago because her legs where so splayed she could hardly get around or even sit properly. I did a necropsy on Sassy the second one I found, third one to die, and didn't find any visible tumors or abnormalities. So far the rest of the flock seems fine but the more I think about it, it almost seems like the ones that got sick were suddenly starting to shy away from us right before they started limping almost like they were afraid of us all of a sudden if that makes any sense. I'm hoping something just clicks with someone who reads these posts and is able to point me in the right direction if it would in fact not be Marek's. If we do start to have any other birds show similar symptoms though that one will be taken to the vet.

KikisGirls that doesn't produce a draft in the winter and where would I put those? Not too close to the roosting bars right?

 

[Kiki]

Sounds just like Marek's.

 

[Kiki]

I am not familiar with cold weather and drafts, but I do know coops need ventilation...
You may want to check with people in your state thread to see exactly how they vent.

Find your State's thread.