Suggestions for a VERY muddy run?

[3KillerBs]

if the surrounding area puddling up is enough to make the run itself muddy.

If the area collects standing water because the drainage is poor then no bedding of any kind will ever prevent mud.

Fixing the drainage can be difficult, laborious, and/or expensive, but if the coop and run are in a low spot where puddles collect then there's no other option.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

I use wood small chips. Composts well, too

 

[triciayoung]

I'm honestly considering switching from deep litter method to this in our coop area for the ducks. It is so messy and maybe more of a pain in the gizzard than it is worth.

I don’t deep litter. We get a lot of rain also. I use pine shavings on the coop floor and pine pellets for water absorbson in the run. The pine pellets out of the bag may be too hard for a coop floor.

 

[Silexian]

As others have suggested, I like using mulch/chips. Over straw, shavings or sand. They keep the chickens up, out of the mud and muck. When they get too dirty. They can be removed and composted. A lot of places have yard waste recycling centers or street departments. Where you can still get it at no cost. Other than using your own containers and loading it yourself. Saving you from having to take a whole truck load. Or it can be purchased in bags at just about any hardware store or outdoor center.

 

[Mrs Fryzzle]

I'm honestly considering switching from deep litter method to this in our coop area for the ducks. It is so messy and maybe more of a pain in the gizzard than it is worth.

....pain in the gizzard..... you got that right!!

 

[LizzzyJo]

I live in a drained swamp (Great Black Swamp). The only thing that worked was to raise the ground in the run. We worked for over a year a bit at a time that every time we planted a tree we took the top sod and placed it into the run to grow. Eventually the run was raised 5 inches and it stays nice and dry now.

It’s a long term and long process solution that was applied along with all of the others mentioned, but it is truly flawless.

Best of luck!

 

[Starfall Pastures]

We have alot of pine trees so we collect the fallen needles in a cart and dump them into the run. The hens love to dig for bugs in the piles, and they spread it around for us.

 

[Violanna]

orchid bark!! Most commercial wood chips are tested with dangerous chemicals that prevent decomposition. Orchid bark is usually not however.

 

[silverlinings]

I don’t deep litter. We get a lot of rain also. I use pine shavings on the coop floor and pine pellets for water absorbson in the run. The pine pellets out of the bag may be too hard for a coop floor.

Do you have ducks? Pine shavings would never work for us. Ducks make too much of a mess with their water.

 

[Colberon]

Do you have ducks? Pine shavings would never work for us. Ducks make too much of a mess with their water.

No, six chickens.