Chicken run material

[AzChickMama]

Help! I live in Phoenix it's not abnormal to see 115+ degree days in the summer. This is our first time with chicks we hatched on our own they are 6 weeks. They are now out in their coop BUT aside from frozen treats/water we have a misting system over the coop and twice a day our yard sprinklers come on which does wet the coop. (The chicks love it) I always thought they didn't like water but they get in water bowls and sit under misters as well it's so funny! Anyway... Our run has some grass but mostly dirt and here it is horrible clay dirt that does not drain well. We don't want deep litter but want a way to help with keeping the run a little less wet. We have sand in the coop and love it. We thought about adding sand to the run but would it really be that bad if it got wet? I've also considered adding pea gravel or something similar that is not so hard on their feet but they would still be able to scratch to the dirt. Please help any suggestions? There is no way to avoid the area getting wet, if it's not I will end up with baked chickens and we don't want that route we actually love these nuggets

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC.

You should probably go to the Arizona state thread to get local advice since your conditions are so unusual compared to most other places.

 

[AzChickMama]

Welcome to BYC.

You should probably go to the Arizona state thread to get local advice since your conditions are so unusual compared to most other places.

What?! I had no idea there was a thread for Arizona . Shows how much I know. Now to figure out how to find it.. Thank you!

 

[3KillerBs]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/arizona-chickens.31227/

 

[AzChickMama]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/arizona-chickens.31227/

Thank you so much!

 

[3KillerBs]

Thank you so much!

You're welcome.

 

[AzChickMama]

I have posted in the Arizona group with no such luck or response. Even if you are not in AZ can you share your feedback with sand in run over dirt and if yours gets wet from rain or sprinklers how does it do? Or do you use pea gravel over dirt or something similar? I need to limit the amount of mud the rain and sprinklers are causing in the run. We can't cover completely to avoid the water or airflow is limited it does have shade clothes over the area but the rain and sprinklers still get through.

 

[BlueBaby]

I have posted in the Arizona group with no such luck or response. Even if you are not in AZ can you share your feedback with sand in run over dirt and if yours gets wet from rain or sprinklers how does it do? Or do you use pea gravel over dirt or something similar? I need to limit the amount of mud the rain and sprinklers are causing in the run. We can't cover completely to avoid the water or airflow is limited it does have shade clothes over the area but the rain and sprinklers still get through.

I just have dirt in mine, even with the mister's going (and the monsoon).

 

[BlueBaby]

Oh and another AZ. member did answer you in the AZ. state thread, saying that you can plug some of the nozzles, and keep less of them open to aim them where you want the flow to go.

 

[AzChickMama]

Oh and another AZ. member did answer you in the AZ. state thread, saying that you can plug some of the nozzles, and keep less of them open to aim them where you want the flow to go.

Maybe I am not looking at that right. Ugh I'm sorry. I am really not that tech challenged but guess I am on this site