chicken and duck coop like a bog :(

[Aaronblackman]

Hey all, I have 4 call ducks and 3 golden brahmas all in a run at the top of the garden, the run is approximately 12ft by 24ft and covered by netting and thatching to give them protection from prey. unfortunately, when it rains, it causes to the run to go all boggy and muddy, it also starts to smell a bit as the ducks poo mixes with the mud. I'm only 17 and care for them all myself. The ducks and Brahmas are all show quality so i try to keep them as clean and happy as possible.

The brahma's feet are starting to get very muddy and unattractive from all the mud they traipse around in. Is there anything I can put down to maybe absorb the rain water. I'be heard sand helps which would be okay and I have heard bark also helps, but the bark may damage the hens feet.

What can I use to drain the water? if anything?

Cheers

Aaron

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
a layer of sand sloped toward where you want the water to drain off to might help. But somewhere I was reading that chickens and ducks should be kept in separate places. No matter I have never kept ducks so wouldnt know. I have been thinking of using Rice hulls for bedding in the coop. I use them for the horse and they are a pretty interesting product. I make a layer for the horse about eight inches deep and her poo lands on top so its scoopable her pee soaks in but in the underneath part of the hulls so the surface always remains relatively dry. I just move the dry aside and scoop out the wet then pile fresh dry on top. The plus side is rice hulls have some rice leftover in them so the birds love to pick through them, I am certain that the same would be true with Ducks and Chickens.