Rain rain go away!

[Alan B]

Good-morning to everyone,

I have a 6 x 6 run that is half covered with a roof and the other half is chicken wire. I thought I'd leave some of the run uncovered to let sunlight in and keep my wood chip floor dry. However, its been raining here for three days with a forecast of rain for the next three days. The wood chips have been mixed in with the wet dirt and has created some mud spots. The hens don't seem to mind. They scratch at the mud and peck at whatever they find. They do have a dry place to go to under the coop but seem to spend allot of time in the wet run.

I was just wondering if the mud and wet chips will cause any problems to their feet or general health? I'm thinking of removing the chicken wire on the roof and covering it to prevent rain from getting in. Is this a good idea? Some sun and rain will still make it in because of the height of the run and the sun's rotation.

Or, am I thinking too much as a human and not enough as a chicken and they are happy to have mud once in a while?

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[earlybird10842]

Good-morning to everyone,

I have a 6 x 6 run that is half covered with a roof and the other half is chicken wire. I thought I'd leave some of the run uncovered to let sunlight in and keep my wood chip floor dry. However, its been raining here for three days with a forecast of rain for the next three days. The wood chips have been mixed in with the wet dirt and has created some mud spots. The hens don't seem to mind. They scratch at the mud and peck at whatever they find. They do have a dry place to go to under the coop but seem to spend allot of time in the wet run.

I was just wondering if the mud and wet chips will cause any problems to their feet or general health? I'm thinking of removing the chicken wire on the roof and covering it to prevent rain from getting in. Is this a good idea? Some sun and rain will still make it in because of the height of the run and the sun's rotation.

Or, am I thinking too much as a human and not enough as a chicken and they are happy to have mud once in a while?

Any advice is appreciated.

If they seem to enjoy the mud, and it is only short term, you shouldn't have issues!

 

[jetdog]

Good-morning to everyone,

I have a 6 x 6 run that is half covered with a roof and the other half is chicken wire. I thought I'd leave some of the run uncovered to let sunlight in and keep my wood chip floor dry. However, its been raining here for three days with a forecast of rain for the next three days. The wood chips have been mixed in with the wet dirt and has created some mud spots. The hens don't seem to mind. They scratch at the mud and peck at whatever they find. They do have a dry place to go to under the coop but seem to spend allot of time in the wet run. 

I was just wondering if the mud and wet chips will cause any problems to their feet or general health? I'm thinking of removing the chicken wire on the roof and covering it to prevent rain from getting in. Is this a good idea? Some sun and rain will still make it in because of the height of the run and the sun's rotation. 

Or, am I thinking too much as a human and not enough as a chicken and they are happy to have mud once in a while?

Any advice is appreciated.

I would continue with the roof not only to keep things dry but also to keep the snow out and will make it easier to winterize it when the snow flies.

 

[RonP]

Add more wood chips...a lot more.

I posted this on another query:

My run is 14'x14'. I started my run with a minimum of 10 inches of free wood chips supplied by a local tree service. Five years later, my run is 8 to 20 inches high of compost - the top 5 or 6 inches being fresh wood chips and leaf litter. I have never cleaned the run. No odors, no mud, no bugs. Water drains well from the "hill". The level seems to remain constant, fine compost also disappears out of the coop's 1/2 inch screen as the chickens kick it out.