Help.. Super Muddy Run.....

[onionheadtg2014]

Hi I live in Florida and our weather has not been so nice recently. It has rained everyday for a week and everything is drenched. Since I built my run I have been putting hay on the dirt floor as a precaution against this but that isn't working. I let all of the chickens out in the yard because the mud was so bad that one got stuck in the mud and got hurt..... I have to wear water boots in the pen when I go and it smells awful as well..... What should I do for it. Can I go buy some mulch and spread it out or will that sooner or later do the same thing? I don't know of anywhere here local that I can buy sand so until I can find sand is mulch ok? I will not buy hay anymore as I have learned my lesson but I have to do something...... Please help me!!!!!

 

[Judy]

I haven't dealt with this, but I do know of a good article about it:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-fix-a-muddy-run-chicken-coop

 

[6of6chicks]

I had this problem when I built my run. I ended up having to dig the entire thing out and put down a base of gravel, then put the dirt back in on top of the gravel. By the time I was done the floor of the run was 4-6 inches higher than the surrounding area.

I also dug out the ground around the run so that there was a natural slope to help drain water away from the run.

Fixed the problem. We've had many downpours since then and the area around the run floods, but the run itself stays completely dry.

 

[onionheadtg2014]

Thanks for the article.... I went to Walmart today and bought some mulch.... I didn't get a lot but was able to get enough to protect them from the suction of the mud. All is well now until the next flood lol

 

[RonP]

Do a search on "deep litter".

Lots of information, and it works.