bare ground in run....MUD!

[Ridgerunner]

Makes perfect sense to me. You're talking about a French drain, either with a drain pipe or just a trench filled with rocks, gravel, or sand. There are different ways to make that work. But the key is that the water has to have a lower place to drain to.

Grullablue, I get wood chips from a local city that chips up braches and such they get from trimming trees around power lines and sells it as mulch $10 for about 2 cubic yards. Not many cities do that but maybe worth checking out.

You can also talk to utility companies. They may be willing to give you a truckload of wood chips when they are in the area trimming trees instead of hauling it to the far side of the county to get to a dump. You won’t have control over what kind of trees they came from, but I’d use them.

Talk to a local landscaper or maybe a tree nursery to see where they get their wood chips from.

Call your county extension office, either online or in the phone book under county government, and talk to them. Not all agents are as good as some others, but that’s the kind of question they should be able to answer.

 

[grullablue]

thanks for all of the input! Gravel didn't seem like an option...I just can't imagine that would feel good on their feet....because, like what was said, unless I went with a pea gravel or something, it would be sharp. I agree, sand, without a base, will just sink into the Earth. Wood chips....I really would consider that though. I think of my mulch I use in my garden beds. I add new mulch on top of the old, every spring. Would the run be similar? I usually do just leave my run go. I've raked it well during very dry spells, but their manure seems to just break down. In the past, when the run has been insanely muddy, I've spread some hay out there. No, it surely doesn't soak anything up....but it does cover it for a bit, until they mash it into the mud. Putting in some sort of drainage....that oculd be done, as long as my husband is on board with that. Not too sure if he would be...he does plenty around here! I'll keep thinking....

 

[4 the Birds]

thanks for all of the input! Gravel didn't seem like an option...I just can't imagine that would feel good on their feet....because, like what was said, unless I went with a pea gravel or something, it would be sharp. I agree, sand, without a base, will just sink into the Earth. Wood chips....I really would consider that though. I think of my mulch I use in my garden beds. I add new mulch on top of the old, every spring. Would the run be similar? I usually do just leave my run go. I've raked it well during very dry spells, but their manure seems to just break down. In the past, when the run has been insanely muddy, I've spread some hay out there. No, it surely doesn't soak anything up....but it does cover it for a bit, until they mash it into the mud. Putting in some sort of drainage....that oculd be done, as long as my husband is on board with that. Not too sure if he would be...he does plenty around here! I'll keep thinking....

Since you have horses then I imagine that you have plenty of straw and hay available. Adding a bale or two in the run during times of flooding will help. I just added 4 big blocks of pine chips to the coop and run area. It really keeps things dry and eliminates any mud. Lower levels will decompose. You will need to add or replenish coop and run material every few months or at least a few times a year.

 

[BillM2]

You'd think at this time of year there would be loads of pine and fir mulch from all the Christmas trees being ground up. Check with your local recycle center or transfer station. Free for the hauling!