How to deal with mud in the (uncovered) run?

[devilkin]

Hi,

Our girls (3) have a covered run area and an uncovered run, and the uncovered run has been eaten clean and so is mostly soil which then turns into mud when it's raining.

We were wondering if there's something we can do about it - either putting down some kind of bedding (straw? hay? woodchips?) or whatever else might work. I also don't want something that would rot and give them health problems - but not sure what to use, franky.

It's mostly for them - the humans of the flock just use clogs and boots

 

[Yardmom]

Any of the materials you mentioned would help, but they will break down and need to be added again. Straw holds up better than hay, but I think wood chips would last longer than straw.

 

[AinaWGSD]

It's not a great solution, but in my past uncovered run I have used straw. It helps, and the chickens love scratching through it, but it's not great.

Out at the farm, where the run is too large to cover, we just shoveled the wood shavings out onto the ground when we did a deep clean of the coop. It was a large area, but after several coop cleanings it helped more than straw.

I don't have any personal experience, but I've heard a lot of people have had good luck with bark chips.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Hi,

Our girls (3) have a covered run area and an uncovered run, and the uncovered run has been eaten clean and mostly soil which then turns into mud when it's raining.

We were wondering if there's something we can do about it - either putting down some kind of bedding (straw? hay? woodchips?) or whatever else might work. I also don't want something that would rot and give them health problems - but not sure what to use, franky.

It's mostly for them - the humans of the flock just use clogs and boots

I use straw. And in areas they walk. They don't mind the mud so much but they also don't like snow.
Wood chips could work. Or pine needles.
I like softer options

 

[linguini]

wood chips! you can get them free from tree companies in our area, perhaps you can search around in your area? or collect pallets - they'll congregate on the pallets on snowy days!

I also use pavers to make a path for human to walk on.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Whatever you do, do not use hay. Hay molds very very easily when exposed to any moisture.

 

[devilkin]

Since I still had some wood chips around I spread those in the run. The ladies are having a field day finding interesting pieces

 

[aart]

Wood chippings from a tree trimmer.
Best if you have a large space to store the big pile they will dump.

This is two loads:

 

[linguini]

Wood chippings from a tree trimmer.
Best if you have a large space to store the big pile they will dump.

This is two loads:

Isn't it great to have a pile of woodchips at your disposal if you can afford the space to store it?? I've enjoyed mine tremendously the last year! Still haven't consumed one pile entirely. I am a total "born again wood chipper" after trying sand, straw. They are great for gardening to keep weeds from popping up, and great addition to composter when we need them!

 

[devilkin]

Unfortunately we don't have the room to keep a pile of woodchips, nor would you get it for free here. Anyway, we make due and the outside part looks a ton better with some woodchips in it.