My coop is on a hill slightly higher than the rest of the yard, I do not have any standing water in the run but it still gets muddy until it dries. Maybe that is ok and normal for them. I was not sure. I could add more dirt. Any ideas on where to get it cheep? I love the sod idea. I am going to try that. What is a flake of alfalfa? I have added sand before under the coop but it just disappears after they scratch in it. I have some spots that are softer that they like for a dust bath but it is not great. I need to make a dust bath area maybe. I do have some rocks mixed in with the dirt from our landscaping. I need to get those out. I do not compost but my mom does. I will get some from her. Maybe I will take the compost and put it under the coop where it stays dry so they have soft dirt for dustbaths and to sit in. What about adding leaves? bugs like to hide in the leaves.
Your situation sounds pretty normal. I was envisioning chickens wading in mud. I'm not sure where the cheapest place is to get sand; I suppose it depends on how much you are getting. You can get 50lb bags at Home Depot for a bit less than $2.50 (located near the cement). I get alfalfa in bales and when you cut the strings off, it can be easily separated into smaller compressed chunks that are called "flakes." Compost or peat or anything that adds some organic material to the soil will help keep it from compacting. Your birds will definitely appreciate a dust bathing area that remains relatively dry and the spot under the coop sounds perfect. My chickens have a favorite dust bath under an overturned canoe. We periodically add ashes from the fireplace and DE to help keep the soil fluffy while inhibiting external parasites. Leaves are fine too for giving them something to scratch among, especially if your birds spend most of their time confined to the run.