Question about run bedding

[rosemarythyme]

Okay so I got the pics, couldn't find the yard stick to measure but its from TSC

Ok so that's about 4x6... you said you have 7 chickens? I'd consider turning this entire unit into a coop once you have the larger run built. Even with some bantams the coop on this really isn't big enough for 7 once they're all adults.

As far as the deep litter, that might be tricky with a small run footprint as it can only absorb and compost so much at a time plus it can get thick (in fall, with the leaves, mine gets 4-6" deep before it starts breaking down). Doesn't hurt to try it out, but don't be disappointed if it needs some maintenance vs how it would behave in a bigger run.

 

[CheepPeepers]

Ok so that's about 4x6... you said you have 7 chickens? I'd consider turning this entire unit into a coop once you have the larger run built. Even with some bantams the coop on this really isn't big enough for 7 once they're all adults.

As far as the deep litter, that might be tricky with a small run footprint as it can only absorb and compost so much at a time plus it can get thick (in fall, with the leaves, mine gets 4-6" deep before it starts breaking down). Doesn't hurt to try it out, but don't be disappointed if it needs some maintenance vs how it would behave in a bigger run.

Yeah I thought it felt a bit small too once I got it built, they all sleep piled on top of one another in one nest box which is..not something ive seen with the last chickens we had who slept further apart and on the roost bars. Theyve def got more room than that in there and its not that cold at night yet lol
The original plan was to free range them, so I thought itd be fine, but things have changed on account of hawks. Ideally it'll be a mobile run, so I can move it around the yard and adjust the size if needed.
How should I go about expanding it as a coop? Add more of a wood exterior?

Ah alrighty, maybe I'll wait til they dig a little deeper to start then xD
I'm already raking it out as needed so a little maintenance is fine. I liked the idea of deep litter as I read about it helping keep in heat come winter.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yeah I thought it felt a bit small too once I got it built, they all sleep piled on top of one another in one nest box

How should I go about expanding it as a coop? Add more of a wood exterior?

I'd start blocking off the nest boxes, it's a bad habit for them to be sleeping in there.

To expand it as a coop... let's see I wrote up one last night:

So to turn it from 2 small "boxes" (tiny coop above tiny run) into 1 bigger "box" you'll want to remove as much of the inside coop wall as possible, plus the floor. Take out the old roosts too.

Nests might be able to stay as is, or may need to be relocated elsewhere or replaced - depends on the structure of the coop and how things inside stack up once done.

Run a new roost or two across the newly open space.

Board up some of the external wire walls so that the roost area is protected from winds and rain. Do NOT fully cover up all the wire, you need ventilation and natural light, so at the very least a few inches under the roofline should remain open. If your climate allows for it, you can leave entire walls open with just the mesh, but I don't know how cold it gets in winter - though you also make it convertible for the season by covering up open walls for winter, and then uncovering for hot and humid summers.