Run Floor

[so lucky]

I am using a mix of wood chips, straw, pulled weeds, stems, twigs, leaves, you name it. It does make a nice mulch and the chickens like to dig in it. I even threw several armloads of stinging nettle that I had to pull out of an overgrown area. The chickens liked that, and the plants dry down well. Oh, and pine needles.

 

[townchicks]

Won't hurt them to eat some, as long as there's nothing really poisonous in there. Mine don't eat the dry leaves.

 

[aart]

As the long winter approaches my plan is to tarp the run and put a Corrugated PVC clear roof on for them to enjoy during the winter.

A very good plan!
Make sure your roof supports can handle the snow load, a plastic roof rake might be a good thing to think about too(practice before the snow falls).
Leave a few inches open at top of wall coverings for ventilation.

I am using a mix of wood chips, straw, pulled weeds, stems, twigs, leaves, you name it. It does make a nice mulch and the chickens like to dig in it.

This!!^^^
A mix of materials is best, too much of anything(except wood chippings) and especially leaves can cause problems.

- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

 

[K0k0shka]

As for not letting them free range, you could just let them out under your supervision for maybe 15 mins to a half hour. Say, if you're doing yard work. Predators generally stay away if a human is around.

I wouldn't bet on that, at all. Especially in the fall, when predators are fattening up for winter, or even worse, in winter when they're desperate, they can get pretty brave. A neighbor of mine had a hawk snatch a free-ranging chicken when there were 7 people and 2 dogs in the yard with the chickens. Right under their noses.

 

[TwentyOneChickens]

I wouldn't bet on that, at all. Especially in the fall, when predators are fattening up for winter, or even worse, in winter when they're desperate, they can get pretty brave. A neighbor of mine had a hawk snatch a free-ranging chicken when there were 7 people and 2 dogs in the yard with the chickens. Right under their noses.

0.0

 

[K0k0shka]

0.0

My reaction exactly... She's in the suburbs, too, not out in the woods or in the country. Which probably makes things worse - the wild animals are too used to people and unbothered at all. We have foxes and coyotes strolling around during daylight hours, too.