Uncovered run! Help!!

[Kate89]

Hey there
I am just north of barrie Ontario and we have pretty wet springs/summers and cold winters
Now that be said I have an uncovered run for my chickens and I am not sure what to put down
It is just dirt right now ass my bird destroyed the grass
The run is about 20x16 feet

thanks

 

[Folly's place]

If possible, do roof your run! You will not love all that snow shoveling in winter. At least add it to your 'wish list'!
Use deep litter in the run too, as shavings, grass clippings, leaves, weeds, whatever, so they have something to dig in and work over. They will make nice mulch in there if you do it right!
Mary

 

[Alaskan]

Hey there
I am just north of barrie Ontario and we have pretty wet springs/summers and cold winters
Now that be said I have an uncovered run for my chickens and I am not sure what to put down
It is just dirt right now ass my bird destroyed the grass
The run is about 20x16 feet

thanks

With wet snow, unless you have a huge coop (about 8 square feet per bird), you are going to want to roof that run, and maybe wall one side of the run to make it sheltered and keep out snow.

 

[Folly's place]

With a good roof on at least part of your run (planned for the snow load!) you can use doubled plastic sheeting on the windward sides to protect them in winter. Our coop/ run combination has a solid north wall, and the west wall, east wall, and south walls are covered in doubled vinyl except for the upper one to three feet, so there's still plenty of ventilation.
The cold isn't a problem but wind chill is, and snow and wet.
Mary