flies and bad odors in the runs...what to do???

[BlackBart]

Quote:
Thanks for telling me that; I was just gonna sort of sprinkle in on top before we do the rest. Do you mean really dig it in pretty deep or just rake it lightly into the soil? My husband will be helping me to do it tomorrow evening. I have 2 large outside runs and 3 smaller outside runs that we are working on.

I dig it in and turn the soil over. The chickens will really appreciate the fresh soil and the Ag lime will sweeten the soil.
We spread Ag lime on our horse manure piles between layers. Keeps the smell and flies down plus it composts faster and balances the PH.

Sounds like you might have to roof your run somehow if it gets really mucky.

 

[SPRING CREEK FARM]

Quote:
A great article with plenty of good information; Thanks for the link!

 

[Sharons7]

I have learned a lot from others questions on here, thank you. Having had my chickens outside now for a couple weeks I am starting to see flies in the run. There isn't a bad smell, I guess because we keep it raked out or it just hasn't been operating long enough yet. DE is hard to find around here. The always not so helpful young kids at Lowe's gave me a blank look when I asked about DE. Same blank look at Tractor Supply. I did find it online but haven't ordered any yet. I know now that even though chickens are outdoor animals they need to have a dry run so I'll work on changing out some of my bright orange construction fence covering for what I asked hubby for in the first place...

With part of their run being on a slope the rain runs off but the mud is a problem. I've landed on my arse a couple times. I finally got the chickens a 3 gallon hanging waterer and a better feeder I made from a 3 gallon bucket and plastic planter base. Saw that idea online and works perfectly.
I have one hen that has a crooked beak and is blind in one eye that liked to sit on the edge of the water bowl I was using..she tipped it over all the time. (i keep telling her I know she will be my best layer.) Other than that I have lost track of just how old my 7 leghorns are... they finally have adult feathers but not totally yet. When can I start expecting eggs?
Ya'll are awesome btw

 

[LynneP]

Some thoughts here too-

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=7693-LynnePs_Run

 

[SPRING CREEK FARM]

Quote:
I don't know where you live but I live in Tennessee and our local farmers co-op ordered some DE for me. A 50 lb bag cost me $39.99.

 

[Equus5O]

Unfortunately, my run is currently surrounded by a moat. With it being so rainy lately, my husband hasn't been able to get the backhoe over to the run to take care of the moat. If we do it while it's so boggy, it will just make even more of a mess. Forget doing it by hand! The area needs to be graded, and a shovel ain't gonna do it.

The stink this past week is .......argh! I read on Pat's muddy run page that sand should be put down only when the run is dry, but I'm sorely tempted to start doing it now! What's holding me back isn't that the sand will be wasted. I fear that if I put the sand down on top of the stinky mud, I'll be sealing the stink in, so to speak. And if I load the wet area with Stall Dry first, that would seem to be a waste of Stall Dry.

It's beautiful out today. I don't know if I can hold myself back any longer! I think I might be going out to waste Stall Dry and sand!

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Why not just trench it for drainage by hand NOW, when you NEED it, then go back in with the backhoe later this summer to do a proper job of grading. It's going to be really, really, really hard to solve your problem until you get that moat emptied. It can be a crude ugly job, just one shovelful wide and dump the dug up dirt wherever it falls, doesn't matter if it's just temporary.

sand should be put down only when the run is dry, but I'm sorely tempted to start doing it now! What's holding me back isn't that the sand will be wasted. I fear that if I put the sand down on top of the stinky mud, I'll be sealing the stink in, so to speak. And if I load the wet area with Stall Dry first, that would seem to be a waste of Stall Dry.

I'd really, really trench it by hand to drain it, first... but then, if you don't mind potentially wasting some of the sand (and if you have planks you can lay so that you can wheelbarrow it OUT there in the first place, if it's that muddy!) then personally I'd level the run with a rake, put down several (plus) inches of sand, and then dust stall powder on the top as needed.

Good luck (I won't say 'have fun' in this case

),

Pat​

 

[Sissy]

I too have been
dealing with stinking and muddy runs with all the rain we have had
I am cleaning up runs and still walking into 2" of mud.
I have one run 6x12 attached to a coop 4x5 with 2 floors to save on space and the run is in the processing of getting a solid roof.
but in the mean time Iam working at putting sand and Ag lime under the sand.and fresh wood shavings into their coop.for
their muddy feathered feet.

 

[Equus5O]

Quote:
Why not just trench it for drainage by hand NOW, when you NEED it, then go back in with the backhoe later this summer to do a proper job of grading. It's going to be really, really, really hard to solve your problem until you get that moat emptied. It can be a crude ugly job, just one shovelful wide and dump the dug up dirt wherever it falls, doesn't matter if it's just temporary.

sand should be put down only when the run is dry, but I'm sorely tempted to start doing it now! What's holding me back isn't that the sand will be wasted. I fear that if I put the sand down on top of the stinky mud, I'll be sealing the stink in, so to speak. And if I load the wet area with Stall Dry first, that would seem to be a waste of Stall Dry.

I'd really, really trench it by hand to drain it, first... but then, if you don't mind potentially wasting some of the sand (and if you have planks you can lay so that you can wheelbarrow it OUT there in the first place, if it's that muddy!) then personally I'd level the run with a rake, put down several (plus) inches of sand, and then dust stall powder on the top as needed.

Good luck (I won't say 'have fun' in this case

),

Pat​

Pat,
Thanks for the response. I actually didn't get much accomplished today. I can't wait until camp starts! LOL And Tractor Supply was out of Stall Dry. They have stocking problems!

The moat surrounding the run isn't really affecting the inside of the run. Inside the run isn't all that bad. It's damp, sure. But there isn't all that much mud; just the areas where there's high human foot traffic. Since the area hasn't had a chance to completely dry out, I suppose that's where the aroma arises.

Tomorrow, I'll get out there with the pick and drain the moat.

 

[Sharons7]

Today I am going to visit our local farmers market. I haven't gotten there yet this season so I am looking forward to finding lots of cool stuff. I hope to find some chicks actually but we shall see. I will also look or at least ask about DE.