Under-Coop Run Maintenance

[NewBoots]

Got a question about maintaining the run area under a raised coop. I've been hanging out on the board for a year or so but this will be my first chicken adventure and I'm trying to avoid as many issues as possible.

In my case, the coop will be 3' off the ground, and the space under the coop will be 8' x 8' and the rest of the run will be an additional 16' x 8' (or possibly 24' x 8'). I intend to use deep bedding with a mix of materials to insure the run is as dry as possible (we get a lot of rain).

Do I just treat that area under the coop like the rest of the run? Throw in the deep bedding and let the chickens sort it out? Is there an alternative that hasn't occurred to me?

Given the wind and rain direction here changes without notice, I plan to use clear panels for the lowest 3' or so of the run on all 4 sides, then solid side the 3 most exposed sides of the run with eyes for tarps on the rest.

Anyway, let me know what you folks think.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I encourage you to go as big as you reasonably can on the run. I don't know how many chickens you are planning, future integration plans for replacements, any of that, but the larger run gives you more flexibility in handling issues that pop up. Hopefully you will never need it but if you do, your life will be easier if it is available.

I don't know how you will keep that bedding out of that area under the coop unless you fence it off. They scratch a lot and are pretty powerful when they do. Initially don't fill it and see what they do. They may keep an area clean for dust baths, but maybe not. In any case don't fight them, you'll probably lose.

 

[NewBoots]

I encourage you to go as big as you reasonably can on the run. I don't know how many chickens you are planning, future integration plans for replacements, any of that, but the larger run gives you more flexibility in handling issues that pop up. Hopefully you will never need it but if you do, your life will be easier if it is available.

I don't know how you will keep that bedding out of that area under the coop unless you fence it off. They scratch a lot and are pretty powerful when they do. Initially don't fill it and see what they do. They may keep an area clean for dust baths, but maybe not. In any case don't fight them, you'll probably lose.

The plan is only 6 laying hens. There'll be a brooding area inside the coop for possible replacements or maybe even a few meat birds (the meat birds would have a separate grow-out area elsewhere).

 

[aart]

I use wood chippings and some other smaller dry plant matter in my open air run.
The 'under-run' is just dirt that stays dry only due to some creative trenching to divert rain run off. Keep this in mind as you build.... where does the run off go.

Good for dust bathing all year and the only sheltered place in the run.
They will scratch the heck out of it and I've had to add dirt under there, usually any chunks of sod I dig up elsewhere like edging the hardscapes. I also throw some wood chippings under there on occasion....or during one event where the drains were overwhelmed, and I had just added a new load of chippings into the run, it floated into that area.

I'd suggest you make access doors for you to get under there from all sides. I restricted the under-run area to about 4', but mine is only a couple feet clearance.

 

[David61]

Best way to keep it dry is roof over hang. Adding Peet moss to the ground is like oil dry. I'm using pine shaving now that its cold but when it was hot they liked the cool dirt floor. I have a raised roosting box/coop 3' off the floor of my 14'x6'. 4' poop board under roost. 4x6. If my floor gets damp from a few days of flooding rain I put down a block of flake pine shavings from TSC. After the girls walk on it for a day or two I rake it out. It is dry again.

 

[NewBoots]

I use wood chippings and some other smaller dry plant matter in my open air run.
The 'under-run' is just dirt that stays dry only due to some creative trenching to divert rain run off. Keep this in mind as you build.... where does the run off go.

This is a concern, I might have to have a French drain set above the coop and run. But now I just realized, my soil is mostly rocks and SAND. The little beasts will have a field day digging their way out of the run unless I trench down a couple of feet with the hardware cloth. Poop, I was just planning on laying the hardware cloth out a couple of feet at ground level and covering it with rocks.

 

[aart]

This is a concern, I might have to have a French drain set above the coop and run. But now I just realized, my soil is mostly rocks and SAND. The little beasts will have a field day digging their way out of the run unless I trench down a couple of feet with the hardware cloth. Poop, I was just planning on laying the hardware cloth out a couple of feet at ground level and covering it with rocks.

Don't despair.
Stake out your coop/run area and watch it when it rains hard...see where the water flow is. I've dug my trenches during a hard rain, I have a good rain coat, then you can dig and direct the water...not really fun, but effective.

I have surface aprons around outside of run, and put 2x8's on edge and/or logs inside run to keep them from digging under wall...they do love to dig next to the run wall and will dig under the apron, but not too far.

 

[Folly's place]

Think about all the times that you will be crawling under there, and consider a walk-in coop on ground level instead. That space under the coop on stilts sounds good, until you have to deal with it. Having a walk-in run, at least partially roofed, makes life much better for you.
Mary

 

[Acre4Me]

We have an elevated coop, with roof overhangs. The chickens hang out under the coop all the time. They use the run also. We just spread chipped wood all over the run, and under the coop. They dig where they want and it changes every so often.