Chickens and MUD

[merrymutts]

It's the Muddy Season here in Missouri and with all the rain we have had, our chicken oen is a muddy, stinky MESS , What can we do to allevate the mud and the stink ? Mulch or straw ?

 

[DobieLover]

It's the Muddy Season here in Missouri and with all the rain we have had, our chicken oen is a muddy, stinky MESS , What can we do to allevate the mud and the stink ? Mulch or straw ?

Divert water from the run, reduce population density, add a thick layer of dry organic matter that drains well like wood chips and dry leaves and ultimately put a solid roof over the run.

 

[3KillerBs]

Wood chips, the kind you get from a tree-trimming service, are frequently considered the gold standard solution for muddy run problems.

The first thing, however, is to address any drainage issues you may have where groundwater is running through and/or into your run by using diversion ditches (go out during the rain to see where water is flowing), French drains, grass swales, etc.

Covering all or part of the run can be helpful.

Any dry, organic material can be used in the run but straw needs to be used carefully because it's subject to packing, matting, and developing anaerobic pockets.

A quick fix for getting chickens' feet out of the mud is to put down some pallets for them to stand on.

 

[aart]

Mulch or straw ?

Neither.

Wood chips, the kind you get from a tree-trimming service, are frequently considered the gold standard solution for muddy run problems.

Yes!...after fixing any drainage issues....

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

woodchips!

 

[gimmie birdies]

It is dry here, but some times when the snow melts I rake, or put out a board to stand on.