Run Covered

[wallacefan]

should the entire run be covered with a roof of just part of it?

also what should the ground be covered in?

sand?
wood chips ?
plain dirt/grass?

 

[ChicKat]

Hi Wallacefan

there are a lot of variables to your question - so the answer is 'it depends'.

If you live in a very hot climate you would want as much shade as possible so depending upon the size of the run, and if your chickens free-range or not -- you may want it all covered. The ground can be left as is. Eventually if your run isn't moveable ---they will graze it down to the dirt if there is grass there. They love scratching out places to take dust baths. If you live where there is a lot of rain, it will be muddy...if you raise chickens with feathered feet and legs -- they will track the mud into your coop.

In my climate, it's impossible to get enough deep dense shade -- except on one side of a building. I have smallish coops that I can move around---but they will eventually use up all the vegetation in the space -- and then moving doesn't provide them with fresh grass. The runs attached to the small coops are quite small---but I let them free range as often as possible.

If your coop has a poop board/tray BTW one of the greatest ideas I have encountered lately is this thread by thespoiledchicken
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/621363/poop-board-convert-warning-graphic-gross-poop-pictures -- The thread is hugely long, has lots of advice - but the first set of posts - the original poster did such a good job of explaining - that you needn't read the whole thing....unless you have a lot of time. ;O)

If your run is smallish--- you may want a sand covering so you can rake up droppings from time to time. Fully covered will prevent the run from getting wet, will keep predators out like hawks, will provide shade...but size is a factor to consider. IMO you definitely want some parts covered for your chickens' wellbeing.

One last tip - while I am writing - Purina has a feed with omega-3 in-- small pellets instead of the huge ones....and my chickens actually like it-- and they are picky eaters.

Welcome to BYC

 

[AVintageLife]

My 8' X 12' hoop run has a tarp on the top to provide shade in the summer and to keep the rain/snow out of the run. In the winter, I hung inexpensive clear shower curtains on all sides to keep out the winds and now that it's spring, they will keep out the rain as well. Clear is great because I can still see into the run and they can see out. In the winter, I use bales of hay in the run which my flock has fun standing on and breaking up. I turn it once a week but for the most part they do most of the work. No odor and the hay stayed dry all winter. Soon it will be moved to the garden. For the summer, the run will have leaves, grass trimmings etc. and there's a sand pit in one corner surrounded by some nice big rocks for them to stand on (and keep their nails clipped). The pit has sand, a little dirt, ashes so they can dust themselves in the run if they want to. They have a dust bin in the coop as well with ashes, dirt & DE. Don't forget some roost poles in the run, a hanging cabbage and I saw someone had a hanging planter filled with assorted veggies. All of these things will keep down boredom when they can't free range.