Cleaning the run area

[kristaschics15]

My run is the ground, no sand nothing just good ole natural earth. How do yall keep that fairly clean? Scooping out the coop is fine and do-able but it doesn't rain a ton here to wash in the chicken poops in the ground in the run.
*coop not 100% finished*

 

[nchls school]

When I had a run with the dirt bottom I worked it up with a spade turning the dirt over completely. If I wanted an area flatter I used a garden rake to level the ground after spading. The birds loved it when this was done; lots of worms and grubs just for the picking.

 

[Folly's place]

Add shavings, grass clippings, hay, straw, leaves, whatever. The birds will work it over and make mulch, which you can shovel or fork out occasionally and add to the garden. Mary

 

[csaylorchickens]

I am in the same boat. I have pine having a in the coop and in the small run. I am eventually going to get washed river sand this coming up week. It seems like it woul be easier for scooping out the poop. But I have dirt in the larger run, just plain old ground with grass and weeds. When fall hits maybe I'll throw some leaves and grass clippings on there and turn up the dirt a bit. Should be fine

 

[ChickenMammX4]

Add shavings, grass clippings, hay, straw, leaves, whatever.  The birds will work it over and make mulch, which you can shovel or fork out occasionally and add  to the garden.  Mary

This is what we have in our run and I've really been happy with it. No visible poop or odor. My run is covered though and stays dry,

 

[Raspbery1]

Question. I'm new to all this. We have a large coop n run. We have wildlife that would to eat my birds at night so I close everyone inside at night. This includes:3 turkeys , 3 Rhode hens, 1 bantam hen, 4 ducks n a rabbit . Crazy I know but theyall get along. Problem ks make a section so muddy n gross. We have be getting rain everyday and not only is very smelly but I have noticed tiny flies. Lots of them. Is there something I can sprinkle on dirt to help dry up n kill those flies without hurting flook.

 

[Mahlzeit]

Question. I'm new to all this. We have a large coop n run. We have wildlife that would to eat my birds at night so I close everyone inside at night. This includes:3 turkeys , 3 Rhode hens, 1 bantam hen, 4 ducks n a rabbit . Crazy I know but theyall get along. Problem ks make a section so muddy n gross. We have be getting rain everyday and not only is very smelly but I have noticed tiny flies. Lots of them. Is there something I can sprinkle on dirt to help dry up n kill those flies without hurting flook.

I bought a rototiller to till the dirt over in the run. With the birds constantly walking on it the dirt gets packed down pretty hard and when it rains the dirt being so packed down it won't let the water drain, the best way to fix it I've found is to dig or till it over.

 

[Folly's place]

Deep bedding, and have the ducks elsewhere. Spalding sells fly predator wasps, and they do help too. Mary