Cheep way to fix muddy chicken run?

[amill233]

Hello. I live in a mountain town and in the chicken run there is about 3 feet of solid snow. We will try to drain it when it melts but it will still be a muddy mess. I was wondering it there is a cheep way to dry up the mud. Thank you, Aaron.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

I don't know any way to prevent that, sorry! And welcome to BYC!

 

[NaniMao]

We garden in a swamp, so I can tell you that drainage is half the battle, the other half is planting a good cover crop like fall rye, or in our mild climate buckwheat, to build the soil and protect it. Then you rotating your chicken pasture and maintain a reasonable flock size so that you never overload the land. Healthy soil acts like a sponge.

 

[gander007]

I use sand

 

[drumstick diva]

pea gravel and sand - enough if possible to elevate the run above grade level.

 

[TwoCrows]

Sand sand and more sand!! I use sand everywhere around here...runs, coops and even the nest boxes! Sand stays dry even when wet. It keeps the flies away, no chicken poop odors, easy to clean, soft on the foot pads, you can hose it down in the summer and it keeps the birds cool, the chickens love to scratch around in it and the natural sand has tiny gizzard stones in it. You can dig it out of river beds, arroyos or washes, sand and gravel companies carry it and deliver, even play box sand will work. Here is a great thread on sand that might give you some ideas....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/444759/got-sand-you-should

Great to have you aboard and good luck with that mud! I know how annoying it can be.

 

[sourland]

Hi, Aaron, welcome to BYC. Increase the drainage from your run, and 'SAND'. Good luck in resolving the mess.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello an Welcome To BYC! Hope spring gets there for you and things start drying and thawing out, and another vote for sand/gravel.

 

[chickie farmer]

a roof or a tarp over the top would help with some of the snow and around the sides. Some snow outside the run will drain into the run but at least you won't have it as bad.