Flooding Run ???

[Crafty-Duck]

It's been raining buckets here

My chicken run is soggy and wet with puddles, how do you all keep your run from getting soggy and gross???

 

[Crafty-Duck]

The water has drained out but the ground is still really soggy!!!!

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

I put leaves down and then it doesn't get so muddy!

 

[Ullie]

I would put a layer or layers of pine branches down. They are easy enough to take away when no longer needed

 

[Smoochie]

Is the run covered? If not, even a tarp can do wonders. I use horse wood pellets in my runs but if they were muddy and times were tight I would use leaves.

 

[Crafty-Duck]

I had leaves down and it did nothing!!! the run is covered and I had a tarp covering! it just rained that much

I may just try the pine branches.Thanks!!!

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

What you need is a big load of sand.
Adding anything organic (like leaves) will just hold more moisture

 

[MimiChick]

I have to agree with sand as a potential solution. We had a lot of trouble with a muddy run until we put sand in. Then, problem solved. We actually shoveled out a lot of the dirt in the run (beautiful, rich soil for the garden) and then put about 3 to 4 inches of sand in. It worked wonders and now the run only gets damp, no puddles, even where it's not covered. Our run is about 9 x 16 feet and only needed about 2 yards of sand total. And since sand is only about 12.00 a yard here, it was a cheap and relatively easy solution.
Good luck.

 

[Crafty-Duck]

Thanks!!! it sounds like sand is the way to go!!!

for a more permanent solution.

 

[Smoochie]

If money is not a factor I would scrape off the top layer of organic matter and put down drainage rock followed by wooden horse pellets. I would also install perimeter drains around the outside of the run and coop and ensuring a positive ground slope. I live on the rainy west coast and deal with lots and lots of rain.