Dry Stall???

[Leihamarie]

Has anyone used Dry-Stall volcanic pumice to dry a muddy, smelly, moldy run??? It just rained and there is drainage issues in the run. The Dry Stall is used for horses, does anyone have experience with it?
@Amelia Egghart

 

[cavemanrich]

I have not used what you are asking about, because never had wet/drainage issues. Of course it rains where I'm at, but my run ground is covered with grass clippings. Ground dries, and grass clippings keep the run from turning muddy. Chickens prefer dry over wet.
I in your situation would most likely (in short term) get straw and cover run ground. You want dry for your chickens to be walking over. Straw is preferred to hay, as it absorbs less water than hay, making it dryer. I know many peeps may comment that straw can cause Impacted Crop. In my 20 years of using straw as bedding in coop (I usually use hay, but when I come across straw for free, I use it as well) that ends up in run area when I clean out coop, never encountered IMPACTED CROP. My chickens have enough feed that they are not desperate to eat straw.
If you use the "Dry Stall" it may only be good until rains again.
Long term solution, and I'm not sure if possible in your circumstance, would be to raise the level of your run area. Not all suggestions are practical to everyone.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,

 

[themechanicbob]

Would it be advisable to put a wood floor in? I live in Texas and we get some good rain here also. I use hay right now but need a better solution

 

[cavemanrich]

Would it be advisable to put a wood floor in? I live in Texas and we get some good rain here also. I use hay right now but need a better solution

Are you asking about putting wood floor in coop, or run. In coop,,,,, YES. In run,,,,,,,,, Questionable, because it would rot much sooner than inside a structure. For run I would think making it elevated with additional soil/sand/pea gravel would give BETTER RESULTS longterm. You may consider boxing in the media with landscape lumber to keep it from washing away.

 

[themechanicbob]

Are you asking about putting wood floor in coop, or run. In coop,,,,, YES. In run,,,,,,,,, Questionable, because it would rot much sooner than inside a structure. For run I would think making it elevated with additional soil/sand/pea gravel would give BETTER RESULTS longterm. You may consider boxing in the media with landscape lumber to keep it from washing away.

I know the run needs to be natural yard or pea gravel with dirt. I was referring to the inside of my coop.

 

[cavemanrich]

Not sure how you plan on doing floor. Some things to consider before making the big leap.
If the floor is going to be raised some, you may encounter rodents taking on residence there. There are ways to prevent that from happening.
1. Frame out the floor base inside with a 4" gap around the perimeter. After you nail down plywood , get some concrete mix and fill in that 4" gap with cement. You can make gap smaller if you see it fit. That will keep rodents out.
2. Frame out wall to wall. Fill in the cavity with pea gravel. Then nail down plywood.
Hoping this gives you some ideas to consider,,,,,,,

 

[themechanicbob]

Not sure how you plan on doing floor. Some things to consider before making the big leap.
If the floor is going to be raised some, you may encounter rodents taking on residence there. There are ways to prevent that from happening.
1. Frame out the floor base inside with a 4" gap around the perimeter. After you nail down plywood , get some concrete mix and fill in that 4" gap with cement. You can make gap smaller if you see it fit. That will keep rodents out.
2. Frame out wall to wall. Fill in the cavity with pea gravel. Then nail down plywood.
Hoping this gives you some ideas to consider,,,,,,,

thanks good tip.