Run build questions

[georgiashens]

Hi everyone! Over the past few days, me and my partner have been upgrading our chickens run but I have a few questions before we fully complete it.

should I cover the whole run? I live in the uk so it tends to rain quite a lot. Previously, about half was covered but the bit that wasn’t would get all gross and muddy. We use bark chips as substrate over the grass. After it rains, they love to dig around for bugs but I’m not a fan of how muddy everything gets. Should I cover the whole run this time or would the chickens get bored of just dry ground?

I want to create a border at the bottom to prevent bark chips from being kicked out and killing the grass but I’m not sure what to use. Ideally I want something that isn’t to expensive since we have already spent quite a lot already!

What sort of enrichment could I add to make them happier? My younger girls love to climb but I’m not sure what things i could make for them. If anyone has any pictures of things they have made i would love to see!

I have added a picture of the run so far. We haven’t made the roof yet but it will be made and on by tonight. Thank you!

 

[RojoMarz]

What do you have laying around that you could put in the run? I have an old chair, a kid's toybox, a kid's playhouse, a dog house, a free standing set of stairs (3 high), and a perch (that has a treestump as one leg, the other is the run fence).

I have two runs. The "inside" run is fully covered. The "outside" run is uncovered. We get lots of snow, so having a covered run is essential.

 

[Bawkbok]

If you have trees on your space, you can find a limb that is substantial in diameter, curved to help with self support - to place in the run for them to perch on. We have a limb, some tree stumps, a chair, a flower pot filled with dirt and a couple of wood perches in the corners. They use all of it.

Do you have a pallet laying around? You can prop that up securely so it doesn't tip over. They love to perch on those.

I want to create a border at the bottom to prevent bark chips from being kicked out and killing the grass but I’m not sure what to use. Ideally I want something that isn’t to expensive since we have already spent quite a lot already!

In terms of the perimeter to aid with the scratching along the edges, we recently installed old privacy fence boards that were in the bone yard, as I call it, waiting to be repurposed. They are thin, long and when zippy tied to the run, creates a barrier for the rocks on the outside of the run to stay outside and the litter in the run to stay in. It is pressure treated but will eventually have to be replaced. It was easy and quick to install. If you have old 2x4s or other wood pieces you could use those.

If you get a lot of rain, I would suggest covering the roof. I wouldn't want to have to regularly wash chicken feet that are muddy and I don't think they like to have their feet wet, do they? Your run is large enough and will get ample light if the top is fully covered.

 

[Logar]

I would cover it. I made a nice big climbing structure in my run. They use it a lot when they have to be locked up

 

[aart]

I want to create a border at the bottom to prevent bark chips from being kicked out

How big are the holes in the mesh?
Smaller mesh would help or boards or sheet metal.

How deep are those chips?
They look way deeper than they need to be, they only need to be a few inches(7cm) to break down the poops.