horrible mud

[Ksane]

A gutter is what I was going to suggest, it's what I need to do with mine. You can even get that cheap plastic pipe and cut it longways in half and attach it to theunderside of the roof for a gutter. There's black or white.

 

[azygous]

You do need to consider long term improvements to correct the situation. Meanwhile, go get a bale of straw and spread it over the mud. That will be a quick fix and buy you time to find someone to put that gutter up for you and maybe trench around the pen to divert any run-off. If you still haven't solved the problem by next thaw, go get another bale of straw. The mud will keep gobbling it up and it'll need replenishing. It can't hurt anything and may even bind with the soil and make things less muddy in the future.

I'm a lone woman coping with problems like this, and I go for the quick fix first, then solve the problem when I have time to think straight.

 

[threeduckfarm]

Places like Colorado Materials and Pioneer let you scoop your own sand and rock into rubbermaid tubs. We do that when we need small amounts of bark or dirt. You could slope your run with a rake and shovel and then go and get some gravel and sand and put it down. Even a good layer of mulch will work well for you. You can scoop the mulch into rubbermaid containers or black trashbags. We do that or put a tarp into the back of our SUV and make a 'bag' out of it. Another option is to buy greenhouse plastic and put it on your run. It's clear, let's light in and cheap. Gutter is also cheap and easy to help drain water away.

 

[technodoll]

I fixed the "greasy mud" problem in my silkie's run by scattering some river rock (small rocks, or large gravel) on top of the mud and then adding a nice layer of fine pine shavings and stomping down on it. After a day or two the shavings absorbed most of the water/mud and with the chickens scratching around it helped to dry out the ground, too.

It's been over 10 days with some intermittent rain and frost and the ground's holding well, still dry.

Good luck!

 

[kittycooks]

I covered my run with PVC corrugated roofing. It has held up to torrential rain, ice, and snow, and is not as expensive as a shingled roof. I put a layer of plywood on the framing first due to our heavy snow load in MN. Depending on your climate you might be able to tack it to your framing.

I can't imagine putting straw out in a muddy run due to mold concerns in my part of the country, but pea gravel works around here.

 

[Tracyree]

Pine bark nuggets

 

[bantamboy]

i have the very same problem just without snow there is just so much rain and the run is downhill from the coop im going to try the gutter idea and see how that works. but as for now all i do is keep the inside of the coop dry with straw and hay and stuff like that and keep hydrated lime in the run continuosly in the bad wet spots to keep the smell down and just let it dry out. sorry i wasnt much help but i can relate to you on that one and its tough and you feel bad seeing it in a mess like that trust me i know right where your coming from if you have anything that works please enlighten me

 

[SteveBaz]

Quote:
do not even open the bags lay them in the sunken area and the chicks will walk on the bags until spring maybe

 

[Carols Clucks]

Being a girl, with some power tools.....

I would buy a gutter and add it to shoot the water elsewhere.
Then I would buy buckets of sand as suggested and fill it. It might take a few trips, but that is right by your house and going to be an issue.

Also, look to make sure the chickens have not dug you a low spot and the rent of the yard is now draining that way. You could put a row of cement blocks around the outside to diver some of the water, fill in the inside with sand so it is higher. You can usually find free blocks on Craigslist, but they are not that expensive