After 12 inches of snow+rain+thaw=flooded run..

[Dynamissa]

I can’t get the dirt floor of my run to dry out. I’m at a loss.
I put down plenty of straw at first but I’m afraid that because it’s so damp underneath I’m going to get mold in the straw.. I put more on top and they scratch it up and in an hour it’s all damp. Then things freeze overnight and thaw during the day and all the dry spots on the run are damp… any suggestions or input? Even their dust with froze and thawed and now it’s a sad clumpy damp dirt spot. This was all fine until
The massive water dump here in the capital region of NY and I see it’s gonna get to 9 next weekend if not lower. Any input appreciated.

Edit: I had a thick layer of straw but it was all damp and I raked it out… this is a thinner layer because I’m up to my neck in bags of dirty straw I don’t know what to do with atm

 

[Noraaaaa]

Some condensed pellets soak up water that may help! I don't have a link. I don't think it will mold because its outside and it can soak into the ground.

 

[lagrange chicks]

Maybe sawdust under the straw would help. When I was working in a cabinet shop a chicken farmer came weekly to get sawdust. He used it in the run and coop.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Shavings work well. Just build it up with the materials you have. Build it up with the old stuff, then add a fresh layer on top of that. If they're turning it a lot, it might build up heat and work like deep litter compost.

 

[Dynamissa]

I have horse bedding pellets, but like not enough liquid to make them poof into sawdust? Also I have to do it overnight or my lovely idiots will try to eat it, and we can’t free range them so they have to stay in their run the whole time… would it work to pre-poof them and spread the stuff maybe???

 

[Evadig]

I understand your frustration! My coop is called the Muddy Run for a reason .

Putting down some heavy duty plastic weed barrier, weighted down with stones on the sides, and placing a good layer of straw on top of that really helped bring the mud under control.

 

[perkolator]

IMO you need to add more organics and in a variety of coarseness. Personally I think arborist wood chips are perhaps the best starter material for runs that aren't sand and cleaned daily. I would also add the straw, some shavings, leaves, hardwood pellets, or whatever other organic materials you have access to. For locations where the surrounding terrain gets saturated, you need enough material in the run to elevate the ground level above the water. In winter the bedding can be moist, it may heat up a tad and keep them warmer in the winter too, but it will break down from moisture and in the spring you may have some good soil there to transfer into a hot composting setup...or just leave it and keep topping off with more organics over time. The run bedding will essentially be similar to a forest floor with high organic content; if moist it will attract insects and worms for the flock to forage through when they're stuck inside a cage all day. Good luck.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I have horse bedding pellets, but like not enough liquid to make them poof into sawdust? Also I have to do it overnight or my lovely idiots will try to eat it, and we can’t free range them so they have to stay in their run the whole time… would it work to pre-poof them and spread the stuff maybe???

Are you sure your chicken actually swallow the pine pellets? If you pre-wet the pine pellets they won't absorb the moisture in the run so they won't be of any use.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Just looking at the photos your run doesn't look bad to me. I don't think a damp run during the winter is something to worry about, especially if their coop is dry, but if there are puddles and deep mud it can be a problem. Wood chips (not shavings) are probably the best option to keep chickens out of mud and their own poop.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Just looking at the photos your run doesn't look bad to me. I don't think a damp run during the winter is something to worry about, especially if their coop is dry, but if there are puddles and deep mud it can be a problem. Wood chips (not shavings) are probably the best option to keep chickens out of mud and their own poop.

x2. I was expecting a literal flood. While it might feel wet and spongy out there, you at least have the ground all visible.

I also recommend wood chips though I don't know if you have any around or can get any in short order (maybe if you have a gardener neighbor with a pile you could buy/borrow some?) Chips allow water to drain through so you at least have a drier surface for the birds to walk on, and you can just toss them on top of the straw or mix them in with it.

If you do get noticeable puddling then some pallets laid down will at least give the birds higher ground to stand on temporarily.