Do you mean moving them into their coop or just let them go outside for a bit during the day? What sort of climate do you live in?

I wouldn't put mine out into the coop until they were fully feathered or it was summer with warm night time temps.

Mine are on dirt for the outside pen but I do through down a bale of straw every now and then to spruce up the place. They are on pine shavings inside the coop.

-Sheila

I'm referring to my outdoor chicken runs outside of the house. I'm in Pennsylvania where the winter temps will be freezing but I started my chicks in the house itself. That's where they've been since the day they arrived. I only have 6 chicks and they have the run of they house (it's only 6' X 10'). I too have pine shavings down in there and of course their brooder light. Overnight temps have been as low as 50 or so. But around the brooder light area I've been maintaining the appropriate temps. Anyway, my question was about their outdoor runs!

I would only let them out on the warmest days for a short time, IF they are on medicated chick starter. Damp ground is great for cocci,. especially if poultry were ever kept there in the past? Covering the ground with some sort of litter(straw, etc.) could only add to the problem of damp soil.

They are on medicated starter and no poultry has ever been kept here before. So what is the long term solution to dirt runs? I can't seem to grow grass, straw will only add to the problem? So I'm still looking for suggestions? Help!

at one time I used panels made from 2x6 treated lumber covered with 1x2 welded wire in the runs. This allowed the chooks to eat the grass but not to kill it. poop fell thru as fertilizer. These panels were not totally covering the run but took up about 1/2 of the area. Worked well enuff, they could be lifted easily and tilled and new seeding planted if needed.
They are all now contained in indoor pens but we alternate releases for the day. They get the run of the barn and outdoors if they desire. My poultry building is 36 x 42 so they seem content to scratch around inside mostly, ranging out in the sun ocassionaly to dust and sun bathe and chase a bug!
Nothing wrong with soil runs, just keep them limed and turned over, possibly dusted with D.E.(diatomaceous earth). Healthy birds can resist most cocci and other problems by good culling practices, eliminate the poor doers. Dont give use of runs in the worst conditions such as heavy rainfall periods. Common sense dictates most good husbandry practices.

What is the lime and D.E. for? And if I throw some lime and D.E. down, how long before I could let the chicks out in the runs? What was your feeling on some straw too?

jgregg,

As long as it isn't muddy, the dirt is perfect. I wouldn't cover it with straw. As grass run is always nice, but in a run they will kill the grass and get down to the dirt anyway. They LOVE scratching through the dirt and taking dust baths (a site you WON'T want to miss)!

I think your set up sounds perfect. As long as the run is totally secure!!! If your set-up is such that they can go from the warmth and security of the brooder area to the freedom of the outdoors and back again, you are going to have some very happy chickens!!! I'd say your are way ahead of the game...

The D.E. (I'm assuming) is to help avoid mites. You can use that. It's just MY opinion, but I'd use just the dirt, rake it out when needed, then later when needed (muddy) add wood chips. (Pine, not cedar)

As far as the little roo goes, I don't know what breed you have, but if the comb and the wattles are brighter and larger, that's a pretty sure sign. Some breeds won't show that, tho...but you'll know soon enough when that hilarious attempt at crowing begins!

Good luck, and have fun!

Suzie

p.s...I haven't been here much for awhile so I'm not familiar with all that's been posted, but when I was starting out Velvet Sparrow's "My Page" helped me tremendously! And you must go to the gallery to check out Sullicorbet's (Sheila's) coop...it's awesome!