Chicken run

[ChrisMath88]

Hi, I'm hoping to be moving house soon and in my new garden I want a nice clean dry chicken run as at the moment it isn't really.... What would be the easiest way to achieve this? I'm thinking digging out a space a inch deep to the size of my run, lining it with something... Then adding a material that'll be clean and dry. Maybe easichick wood chippings that I use in my coop but that would be fairly expensive I would think or possibly sand would be better? Also if I did this how often would the material need to be replaced?

[veggiechicken]

Put a roof over the run and keep the rain out. Mine has an undercover bit and an open area. The difference between the 2 is amazing - and the girls love to dust bath in the dry bit.

[Scarlet]

I've got a large area that's covered, well worth the hassle to get it done.

[Scarlet]

Wood chippings

These are brilliant for runs - my tree surgeon dumps them for free - ring around, they are often happy to drop off if they have a job close by. Layer them about 6 inches deep, plenty enough for them to scratch in. Depends on how they have weathered but would need changing every quarter. They compost down, it's surprising how quick they disappear.

[ChrisMath88]

Thanks for the replies, my run at the moment is covered but it's quite a long thinish run so the rain comes in from the sides more often than not and is on bare dirt I throw sand down every so often which helps, my new run should be completely covered bigger and wider so hopefully that'll keep most of the area dry expect for the side bits, I'll see if someone has some cheap wood chippings around when the time comes

[Guest]

What about just throwing a tarpaulin over? Its all my dad does with his and I occasionally do it.

[Small pumpkin]

I would love my girls to have part of there outside run covered, but it is very impractical. If your girls are anything like mine ( a bit stupid ). They don't go and sit in there house if it's raining. They all huddle in the porch but don't take those two extra steps inside. Chickens you got to love them!