How do you keep your run dry and clean?

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

My run is not covered (and cannot be), and with the wet, snowy winter months here, my run has become pretty muddy and gross. I know that without a roof and cannot keep it totally dry, but maybe there is some way to help it? They have a covered space under the coop so there are some dry places, just not very much. I will be covering my walls with clear tarps to help with wind, so hopefully less snow will be blown into the run (and the girls will stay warmer). My poor hens feet are always wet and dirty (especially my Brahma) and I really hope there are some ways to keep it a little more sanitary. I could possibly scatter some paper based cat litter to absorb some moisture? Or maybe large wood chips or bark mulch. Anyway, if you guys have any tips or tricks I would love to hear them!

For context, I live in North Idaho, have 6 hens, and I will post pictures of my run tomorrow (its dark out right now).

 

[rosemarythyme]

I don't know if the cat litter is safe for them at all.

Large, chunky wood chips are a much better bet to permanently fix the issue, provided the run location has good underlying drainage and isn't sitting in a low spot. Wood chips allow for drainage and aeration to help provide a drier surface for the birds to walk on.

 

[Shadrach]

I could possibly scatter some paper based cat litter to absorb some moisture? Or maybe large wood chips or bark mulch. Anyway, if you guys have any tips or tricks I would love to hear them!

No to the cat litter and the wood mulch. The wood mulch in particular is likely to exacerbate the problem.
Hardwood wood chip may help in the short term but sorting the ground out so it drains properly is the long term solution.
How bad is the run? This bad?

Above is what the run used to look like after some heavy rain. What happens is the accumulation of chicken shite and compaction form a kind of skin on the surface and it's this that hinders drainage.
The first thing to do is to dig the run over. It needs to be dug over at least a forks depth. Adding some compost during the digging may help.
Once you've deep dug the run digging some drainage holes or even a trench at the highest point if the run is on a slope and filling the trench with pea gravel will help.