How to clean a run

[LilyLovesBugs]

My dirt run is so dirty and gross, I feel so bad leaving the hens in it, but I don't know how to clean it! Does anyone know how to?

 

[Tressa27884]

I get great huge backs of triple sifted pine bedding and place it all over the run. It doesn't solve the problem, but it helps. I add it and add it and add it - and then when the weather clears I scoop it all up and put it in my compost pile. I also have several tarps over areas of my run, so they have dry areas to hang out in when they want to. Hope that helps.

I have to add that it's pouring down rain here and all my girls are out free ranging. They don't seem to mind the rain.

 

[LilyLovesBugs]

It's not mud, (hasn't been raining here

) it's the droppings all over... But thanks for the idea!

 

[DDNONIN2016]

That's exactly what I do...put down shavings. Helps a bunch

 

[Gaia]

I can relate. lol
I live in Alaska, and here, where poop falls, it freezes before it hits the ground! lol
There's really no way to scoop or clean it thru the whole winter, so In the spring it's grose and slimy and smelly and disgusting..... Eeeewwww...!!!

I have to figure out how to clean my outside run as well. I think I have accumulated about 1/2 a foot of nothing but manure out there! lol

Should be an interesting undertaking this spring....
I am thinking lots and lots and lots of shoveling, scraping, and protective clothing! lol

 

[amillecay]

My run is all dirt of course and it gets gross!!! Basically what I do is every once in a while turn the dirt over with a pitchfork (I use a pitchfork because the dirt gets hard and a shovel just doesn't work). If I don't have time to turn the dirt over I take a broom and either go over it (of course one you aren't going to use anymore they get full of poo) or you can take a shovel and scrape it across which I personally like the broom better also if you have a long enough/big enough run like I do mine is about 18 ft long I put wood shavings in half of it they seem to stay just fine and not spread every were like when i clean the coop out I put half of the dirty ones out there since they just get dirty right away.

 

[LilyLovesBugs]

My run is all dirt of course and it gets gross!!! Basically what I do is every once in a while turn the dirt over with a pitchfork (I use a pitchfork because the dirt gets hard and a shovel just doesn't work). If I don't have time to turn the dirt over I take a broom and either go over it (of course one you aren't going to use anymore they get full of poo) or you can take a shovel and scrape it across which I personally like the broom better also if you have a long enough/big enough run like I do mine is about 18 ft long I put wood shavings in half of it they seem to stay just fine and not spread every were like when i clean the coop out I put half of the dirty ones out there since they just get dirty right away.

Thanks for all those ideas! It is in need of a good spring cleaning so badly!

I can relate. lol
I live in Alaska, and here, where poop falls, it freezes before it hits the ground! lol
There's really no way to scoop or clean it thru the whole winter, so In the spring it's grose and slimy and smelly and disgusting..... Eeeewwww...!!!

I have to figure out how to clean my outside run as well. I think I have accumulated about 1/2 a foot of nothing but manure out there! lol

Should be an interesting undertaking this spring....
I am thinking lots and lots and lots of shoveling, scraping, and protective clothing! lol

Brr, sounds so cold! my run is so gross right now too!