Any way to avoid a mud-pit from forming??? lol

Sand. Lots of it.

(I don't have sand in mine, but we don't get a ton of rain around here, especially this time of year. I put pavers down so *I* could walk when it's wet, because all the soil around here is that antediluvian adobe clay.) I may go to sand some day... like when the rainy season starts.

 

Linda has the right idea. If possible,build an edging of 6" high boards around the run and line the run with sand. The deeper the better but at least 4 to 6" deep should keep the girls out of the mud and allow for drainage. Paver stones(or big flat creek rock if you can get them) make a good walkway for getting to areas you need to service inside the run.

Larry

 

Here you go:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642-fix-a-muddy-run

 

I use wood chips and it is working great so far. I've been buying the pine chips at TSC. I buy one bag each time I get feed so I can build up a nice thick base before winter. Yesterday I had an ash tree cut down. I asked the tree guys to chip the branches in a pile for me so I could use them in the coop! They were FREE AND I saved money because they knocked off money for the trimming because they didn't have to dump it and pay a fee.

 

Tons of sand, boards around the border, pavers, pallets and straw treat the symptom (for the most part). To treat the cause, you need to address the grading and drainage around the coop/run. Directing surface drainage around and away from the coop/run will go a long way to lowering the risk for flood/mud problems.