What to Put in a Chicken Run

On this page (10 sections)

1. What should go on the ground of a chicken run?
2. How do you keep a chicken run from turning to mud?
3. What do chickens need in a run besides food and water?
4. How do you keep feed and water clean in a run?
5. What should you put in a chicken run for shade and shelter?
6. What should you put in a run for roosting and nesting?
7. How often should you clean a chicken run?
8. Do you need an automatic door for a run?
9. What should you not put in a chicken run?
10. The simple chicken run setup that works

The quick answer to what to put in a chicken run is a draining base, a loose top layer, a dry dust bath, shade and a perch. Start with sand or gravel over soil so water moves away, then cover it with straw or wood chips that hens can scratch through.

The order matters more than the shopping list. If the ground under the run holds water, every layer above it turns to mud within a week.

What should go on the ground of a chicken run?

A draining base under a loose top layer is the answer. Use coarse sand or small gravel over the soil, then 3 to 4 inches of straw or wood chips on top.

The hard layer passes water through, and the soft layer gives hens something to scratch.

If your run sits on bare soil, the first rain usually turns the surface into a wet mat. A gravel base breaks that up, because water drops through the gaps instead of sitting on top.

Straw is cheap but mats down when wet. Wood chips last longer and drain better, so many backyard keepers use them as the main top layer and save straw for nesting areas.

Whichever you pick, plan to rake and top it up.

How do you keep a chicken run from turning to mud?

Fix the slope and the base before you add bedding. Angle the ground so rainwater runs away from the coop door, and put gravel or sand under the loose layer.

Mud comes from water that has nowhere to go.

Look at where puddles form after rain. That spot is the low point, so raise it with gravel or dig a shallow channel to carry water away.

A covered run helps a lot, because the roof keeps most rain off the surface.

Keep the top layer loose with a rake every few days. Packed bedding stops draining and starts holding water.

When the layer gets wet and clumps, remove it rather than covering it with fresh straw.

Compare covered chicken runs if your current setup has no roof and the ground never dries out.

What do chickens need in a run besides food and water?

Hens need something to do, a dry place to dust bathe and shade. A run with only a feeder and a drinker leaves birds bored, and bored hens peck at each other.

Chickens scratch by nature. Loose straw or chips let them dig and hunt for insects and seeds.

Toss a handful of scratch or greens into the bedding now and then and they will work the surface over themselves.

Dust bathing keeps feathers in good condition. Leave a dry patch of sand or loose soil in a corner, or use a shallow box filled with sand and wood ash.

Hens roll in it to smother mites and keep their plumage clean.

How do you set up a dust bath in a chicken run?

Use a shallow container filled with dry sand and a little wood ash. Put it in a corner that stays dry and out of the wind.

A box about the size of a large litter tray works, and hens will share it.

Keep the sand dry by placing it under the run's roof or a cover. If rain reaches it, tip it out and refill with fresh dry sand.

A wet dust bath is useless.

How do you keep feed and water clean in a run?

Raise the feeder and drinker off the ground. Hang them or set them on a stand so bedding does not get kicked in.

Clean water and dry feed cut down on waste.

Feed spilled on the ground attracts rodents. Hang the feeder at about the height of the hens' backs, so they reach up to eat but cannot scratch bedding into it.

A drinker on a stand does the same job.

Move the feeder and drinker around the run now and then. That spreads wear on the surface and stops one spot turning into a muddy puddle.

For rodent prevention beyond the feeder, see how to keep rats out of a chicken coop.

What should you put in a chicken run for shade and shelter?

Add a roof, a shade cloth or a covered section. Hens need shade in summer and a dry spot in the rain.

A covered corner also protects the dust bath and the feeder.

Natural shade from a tree drops leaves and may not block midday sun. A solid roof over part of the run gives reliable cover and keeps bedding drier.

The NUGRIART run measures 123" × 38" × 34" with 1.6" wire spacing. It has five access doors and a gravity door lock, so you can reach in to feed and clean without opening the whole run.

Lightweight construction lets you move it around the yard for fresh ground.

That makes it a practical choice for a small backyard flock. Because it is portable, you can shift it to a new patch when the ground under it gets worn.

For a permanent setup with walk-in access, a larger covered run is the better fit.

When is a walk-in covered run the better choice?

A walk-in run suits a permanent flock and daily cleaning. Standing height makes feeding, raking and reaching hens much easier than bending over a low cage.

A roof keeps rain off the bedding, which is the best way to stop mud.

The CHIKENCOOP run measures 9.8 x 6.5 x 6.5 ft, so adults can stand upright inside. Its frame uses corner braces and a rear support pole to reduce wobble, and the peaked roof with a detachable cover sheds rain and snow.

A 47 x 40 in eucalyptus roost gives hens a place to perch.

The maker says assembly takes about 2 hours with labeled parts. Plan for that time before you move hens in.

What should you put in a run for roosting and nesting?

Add a raised perch and a dry nest box. Hens like to get up off the ground to rest, and a dark nest box gives them a clean place to lay.

A perch should be wide enough for hens to grip and set at a comfortable height. The eucalyptus roost in the CHIKENCOOP run handles that for a larger flock.

For smaller setups, a sturdy branch fixed across two posts works.

Nest boxes belong inside the coop or a sheltered part of the run. They need to stay dry and dark, with clean bedding.

The Rockever nest box is made from thickened HDPE, with a removable roof for cleaning. Its size suits hens, ducks and other small animals, and the dark interior matches a hen's natural laying instinct.

The waterproof roof means it can sit in a covered run as well as indoors.

It comes pre-drilled with instructions and hardware, so no power tools are needed.

How often should you clean a chicken run?

Rake the surface every few days and do a deeper clean every few weeks. Remove wet bedding, turn the top layer, and top up with fresh straw or chips.

Pick up droppings under the perch more often, because that is where hens spend the night. If the base starts to smell, remove the top layer down to the gravel and let it air.

Deep litter works in some runs: keep adding thin layers of bedding and let it compost slowly. It only works if the run stays dry and you turn it.

In a wet run, deep litter turns into a soggy mess.

Our guide to what to put on a chicken coop floor covers bedding choices that also suit a run.

Do you need an automatic door for a run?

An automatic door is optional, but it helps if you are away at dusk. It closes the coop at night and opens in the morning, so hens are safe without you being there.

It is not part of the run surface, but it changes how you manage the setup.

If you plan to add one, read the Run-Chicken Eternal review to see how a solar-powered door works. A door that closes reliably matters more than the brand, especially in areas with foxes or raccoons.

What should you not put in a chicken run?

Skip anything that holds water, anything sharp and anything hens will eat and get sick from. Avoid fine play sand that packs hard, plastic sheeting that traps water, and treated wood with fresh chemical coatings.

Fine sand holds water and turns into a crust. Plastic sheets under the bedding stop drainage and make mud worse.

Sharp wire ends and loose nails are obvious hazards, so check the run edges before letting hens in.

Some plants are toxic to chickens. Keep them out of reach or leave them out of the run.

When in doubt, don't add it.

The simple chicken run setup that works

The short answer is a draining base, a dry top layer, a dust bath, shade, a perch and raised feeders. Get the drainage right and the rest is easy to maintain.

Use coarse sand or gravel over soil, then straw or wood chips on top. Add a covered corner for shade, a shallow dust bath, and a raised roost.

Hang feed and water so bedding stays out of them.

Choose the NUGRIART portable run for a small backyard flock that needs shade and easy moving. Choose the CHIKENCOOP walk-in run for a permanent setup with a perch and walk-in access.

Add the Rockever nest box if your hens need a clean, dry laying spot.

Rake often, top up the bedding and keep the surface dry. That routine, more than any single product, is what keeps a chicken run usable all year.

Frequently asked questions

Should I put sand in a chicken run?

Yes, a coarse sand layer helps a run drain and is easy to rake. Use washed builder's sand, not fine play sand, and keep it a few inches deep so water passes through instead of pooling on the surface.

How do I stop a chicken run turning to mud?

Fix drainage first, then top up with absorbent bedding. Slope the ground away from the coop, add gravel under the surface, and refresh straw or wood chips when they get wet and packed down.

Do chickens need things to do in a run?

Yes. A bare run leads to bored hens that peck at each other.

Add a dust bath, a low perch, shade and a few hanging greens so they can scratch, perch and dust bathe through the day.

Can I put plants in a chicken run?

Only tough plants behind protection. Hens scratch up and eat most greenery quickly, so use hardy shrubs at the edges or grow fodder outside the run and toss it in as a treat.

How deep should chicken run bedding be?

About 3 to 4 inches of loose straw or wood chips covers the surface well without hiding droppings. Rake it often and top it up, because a layer that stays wet and compacted stops doing its job.