Chicken run - Covered or uncovered

[JimmerG]

So here I go again wondering about chickens......

Been looking at different sorts of coop/run. I've been looking at the type that is a raised coop with a run. The whole thing is under a roof and is about 2m long and 1m high, with a little ramp heading up into the coop.

The chooks will be let out to roam around the garden (150 m. sq.) for most days.

Then some chicken runs are open to the elements - is one idea better than the other?

Thanks

J

[CaroltheCarrot]

Mine is half covered in that pastic corrugated sheeting to keep the coop dry,and the other half in netted to keep the crows out to stop them stealing the food,sparrows and wee birds still get in but I dont mind them

[BUFFS]

just be sure that there is no way mr fox can get in,i have covered their coop area with tarpaulins(keep a dry area) beside chicken wire @about 2mtres height,might be OTT but would hate to lose any to a roaming fox...

[Hinksy]

We have our run covered which I personally think is better that way the Chickens can play out when it's raining and not get wet, also stops wild bird droppings getting in to the run and spreading any filth to the Chickens.

[roadkill]

mine was uncovered when i first started and after a long summer with lots of rain and bits of mash over the floor of the run it soon started to smell sour , so i removed the run and covered the run and since then no problems

roadkill

[Flummery]

Ours is covered. It's about 2.5 x 3 metres and is covered with the see-through corrugated plastic stuff. Really good as it keep the rain off the flooring and they don't get drenched. Also stops them getting into contact with droppings from wild birds. (Unless they go roaming outside too.)

[JimmerG]

Thanks everyone, seems 'covered' is the sensible idea....

[Bramble-Poultry]

its also worth trying to keep out the wild birds as no matter how good you are at keeping red mite at bay, it only takes one sparrow carrying the red mite to visit you and you are back at it again!