Making a waterproof roof and a no mud run!!

[HoofyLoo]

I have a walk in run for my chooks. It sits on concrete slabs but the inside of the run area is soil and wood chips. As you can imagine this is a bit stinky and very very muddy. The chooks have plenty of branches that they enjoy perching on but I'm sick of getting covered in mud when I go to say hello. I'm thinking they need a roof (it's just wire at the moment). Does anyone have any recommendations? I was thinking plastic corrugated sheeting? Also I'm thinking of digging out some of the mud and chucking a load of sand and gravel in the run to help with drainage. what are your thoughts on this?



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[Snadger]

Mine have a huge piece of perspex about 8 foot square affectionately know as the "Chook conservatory".
Its been a godsend this winter with some of the allotment chook keepers having to keep there chooks indoors because of the swampy conditions.
Mine still have an area four or five times the conservatory size which is open to the elements but at least there's somewhere for them to go when its inclement.

[lettucegrow!]

I've tried all sorts of tarpaulins but they just get ripped off in the wind. This is something that bugs me too in the winter, mine too can keep dry but most of their enclosure is open to the elements. I like the idea of the Perspex roof snadger . How is it attached?

[Floyd]

I bought some reclaimed 10'x3' box corrugated steel sheets to roof mine completely, which has effectively kept all the rain off them. Inside the run I'm using sawdust and wood chippings which I get delivered in huge quantities for free by a friend who works for a joiners. This has completely changed the run from a quagmire to a nice dry area and just needs shovelling out straight into the compost heap when it needs replacing.

[HoofyLoo]

Right! Thanks everyone. I'm going to get costing up how much a roof is going to cost! My poor ladies will need wellies at this rate!


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[RedThorn]

My girls used to have free range of both greenhouses in winter 6x12 and 6x8 ft

As I planted in permanent beds, they weeded and fertilised through winter and I grew through summer, we were both happy with the arrangement

[Bill HH]

Change over to ducks.

[Verinda]

My hens love the wind and rain, when they're in their run they have a small sheltered area which they never go in and their shed which they avoid all day till nightfall. So I'd say hens just need a bit of shelter and not covered up completely.

[Scarlet]

My girls used to have free range of both greenhouses in winter 6x12 and 6x8 ft

Last year I let my chickens in one if my greenhouses but they broke several panes of glass so I won't do that again.

[Snadger]

I've tried all sorts of tarpaulins but they just get ripped off in the wind. This is something that bugs me too in the winter, mine too can keep dry but most of their enclosure is open to the elements. I like the idea of the Perspex roof snadger . How is it attached?

I have a fully enclosed run and didn't want to take the wire off in case Mr Fox found a way in. What Ive done is jam up a huge sheet of perspex with a central pole holding it against the inside of the wire.
A bit like a high roofed tee pee It's slightly domed from the central support, which is ideal for shedding water.