Chicken Run and Rain

[geojerry]

Any suggestions on keeping the chicken run from getting muddy. It rains a lot here in Washington and it rains sideways. I have placed a roof on run, but it rains sideways often due to wind, and still gets muddy. I'm just looking for some ideas I haven't thought of. Thanks

 

[SnowPeeOstrichU]

Hi,

not sure how to prevent it but are you having issues? Mine like how mud makes worms and other treats underground easier to find.. However, I do have a dry area in the henhouse with pine shavings so dustbathing can go on year round

 

[tdepointe]

I agree with SnowPeeOstrichU, that most chicken do not mind the mud as long as they do have some dry place.
Without seeing pic of the coop suggestions to keep rain out are hard. The only thing that does come to mind is to put plastic on the side that most storm come from. This will also cut down on wind blowing through the run which should also cut down on rain coming from the other side.

Tom

 

[enola]

Mud and wet dirt harbors all kinds of ugly thingies that chickens will do better if they are not exposed to them.

 

[tdepointe]

Mud and wet dirt harbors all kinds of ugly thingies that chickens will do better if they are not exposed to them.

This is true, I was referring to wet ground more than mud. My run is large and has grass in most of it.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Building up a good layer (4-6 inches) of organic materiel (lawn clippings, straw, leaf litter) is a great way to combat muddy run -- alternatively, designing your run with a good understanding of drainage, including the use of layered substrate, is also an option.

 

[Teila]

Living in Aus in a tropical/sub tropical zone, I agree with enola and try to keep the run as dry as possible, wet dirt and/or mud + humidity is a breeding ground for bacteria and other nasties.

It is a constant battle to keep the run dry and the first site I visit each morning when I turn on the computer is the weather/rain radar

With our heat, I have shade cloth over the run which also keeps light showers from penetrating but have also fashioned a plastic rain cover for those more torrential down pours which we experience often. It takes me about 10mins to attach it, with a heap of pegs .. it is not pretty but it does the job. I am getting quite expert at attaching and unattaching, reattaching and unattaching depending on the weather. It cannot be left on for too long because if the sun shines for a while, the heat/humidity in the run increases ... sometimes it might be on for a day, other times only a couple of hours.

Using the deep litter method in the run, as Ol Grey Mare has suggested, keeps my gals high and dry while lower lying ground outside of the run is wet.

We experienced a couple of floods last year and the smell afterwards was not pleasant.

As tdepointe has suggested, I recommend plastic siding of some description; easy and quick to attach and remove; doesn't have to look good, just keep the rain out.

 

[geojerry]

Hi,

not sure how to prevent it but are you having issues? Mine like how mud makes worms and other treats underground easier to find.. However, I do have a dry area in the henhouse with pine shavings so dustbathing can go on year round

Not having an issue, just want to think proactively. You gave me some great incite. Thank you

 

[geojerry]

Living in Aus in a tropical/sub tropical zone, I agree with enola and try to keep the run as dry as possible, wet dirt and/or mud + humidity is a breeding ground for bacteria and other nasties.

It is a constant battle to keep the run dry and the first site I visit each morning when I turn on the computer is the weather/rain radar

With our heat, I have shade cloth over the run which also keeps light showers from penetrating but have also fashioned a plastic rain cover for those more torrential down pours which we experience often. It takes me about 10mins to attach it, with a heap of pegs .. it is not pretty but it does the job. I am getting quite expert at attaching and unattaching, reattaching and unattaching depending on the weather. It cannot be left on for too long because if the sun shines for a while, the heat/humidity in the run increases ... sometimes it might be on for a day, other times only a couple of hours.

Using the deep litter method in the run, as Ol Grey Mare has suggested, keeps my gals high and dry while lower lying ground outside of the run is wet.

We experienced a couple of floods last year and the smell afterwards was not pleasant.

As tdepointe has suggested, I recommend plastic siding of some description; easy and quick to attach and remove; doesn't have to look good, just keep the rain out.

Thanks for the info.

 

[geojerry]

Based on what I read (Thank you for the info) I will make sure to have a dry area and an area that can get wet.