Chickens need a dry and well-drained chicken run to prevent health problems and foot issues, and a muddy chicken run is also unhygienic and can become a breeding ground for bacteria. Here are some tips for creating a dry and well-drained chicken run:

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Location: Choose a location that's well-drained, avoid placing the run at the bottom of a slope or where the ground can become waterlogged.

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Ground Surface: Lime can help firm up the soil and increase water resistance. build up the area with a layer of pebbles, shingle, sand or sandy soil. Under no circumstance use rubber chippings

Ground Cover: Try to avoid bare ground. Use dry, dust-minimal ground cover like wood chips or bark, dry leaves, washed sand, or shingle. You can also use hemp, which is absorbent and has natural antimicrobial properties. Use materials which absorb moisture and improve the ground over time. Chickens should be able to easily scratch and dig.

Predator-proof fencing: A durable fence is critical to keep out predators. Protection should extend between 8"-12" below the surface. Also, anti dig mesh extending outward away from the run for about 1 metre will also help to stop digging predators. If you are in an area where birds of prey are a risk, overhead netting with shiny ribbons or disks to make it visible to the bird is a good deterrent.

Construction: Lightweight chicken wire is not fit for purpose, while it will keep chickens in...it won't keep predators out. . Metal framed self assembly runs can offer a bigger run, but you must ensure that it offers adequate protection against predators. 0.04" or 0.9mm is a good choice, it holds its shape well yet it can be bent by hand at the same time. But clearly, the thicker the gauge used, the more protection. The smaller the mesh, the more protection is offered against smaller predators. 2" mesh might allow stoats and weasels in. Better to go for 1" or smaller.

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Covered feeder area: A covered area for the chicken's feeder is essential. You also need a dry, protected area for your chicken’s bird bath.

Shelter: Protection from the weather, including wind, rain, and extreme summer sun. You can use a tarpaulin to cover the run or build a more permanent field shelter.

Bird-Flu: If possible it's better to exclude all wild birds from your run. Overhead cover such as in a tarpaulin or corrugated sheeting prevents wild bird faeces falling in to the run. Pop-up runs made from mesh netting are a good solution as they can be moved around to stop chickens stripping surface grass, turning the ground to mud. 

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Space: Chickens need enough space to exercise, stretch their wings, and behave normally. A good rule of thumb is 10 square feet per bird if you combine indoor and outdoor space. However, here is a couple of general guidelines for outdoor space:

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• Free-range: Chickens need about 8–10 square feet of outdoor space per chicken. 

• Enclosures: Chickens need about 8 square feet of run space per standard breed chicken, and 15 square feet per standard heavy breed chicken. ​

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