Protection is the most important thing to chickens. Small chicken coops should be fully enclosed. This stops predators being able to scale the walls to get in. If you are in an open area or suspect predators may be around, then you are also better off enclosing the floor too.
What can you put down in uncovered Chicken Run?
Possible Fixes for a Muddy Chicken Run Well draining material can include wood chips, or small pebbles or stones. If you use stone or pebbles the area can be covered with wood chips for a softer ground and a well draining area.
Do chickens need an enclosed space?
If your chickens need to be enclosed in the hen house for long periods of time, you should consider increasing that space to 7 or 8 square feet. If your chicken coop is combined with a chicken run (if they spend all their time in the coop) there should be at least 10 square feet of space for each chicken.30 jul 2018
Should chickens be enclosed at night?
Chickens will roost in trees at night unless they are maimed, too hefty, ailing or sitting on eggs or sometimes if they have young chicks they may opt to go under something instead for protection. Unfortunately, this won't protect them from predators of which they have many at night.
How do you cover a chicken run in the winter?
The simple solution is to cover the run with a tarp or piece of plastic. This is the least expensive route. In some instances, you may already have a tarp or a large sheet of plastic. To keep the tarp from collapsing under snow load, pull it taut and secure to the top of the fencing of the chicken run.7 feb 2014