How to fix my muddy run!? Help!

[Jakrzz]

Okay so I have a chicken run and a coop inside it, the run is about 15x20 And I have 13 chickens now.
Now my problem is that I have a GROSS, POOPY, MUDDY run!!
I have put hay down in the past after it rains to soak up the moisture, but after a week it gets all poop covered and smelly and it's just a bad thing to have to deal with!
Now the roof of the run is basically made of some PVC sheet material and right in the middle of it, it drips all the time when it rains and makes the coop all muddy and smelly!
So I covered that with a large tarp, problem solved? NO.
So now the rain runs off the sides of the roof and hits the ground, and bounces inside the coop, MAKING IT ALL GROSS AND POOPY!
So I'd Shovel it all out and next thing ya know it happens again!
It's been a rainy couple of months and then it gets hot, then it rains and all the poop hardens up.
So I'm gunna try and dump water in there and scrap it all out, but I need HELP because I'd rather not spend the money on a gutter system, but I also can't dig a trench because the outside of the run is big rocks and thick roots from bull pines!
Maybe sand? I honestly don't quite know!
Quick responses are highly appreciated!

 

[Naunnie]

Yes Sand! I love it! We have been having a lot of rain here too. I have no standing water or muddy spots. Not even in the duck run. I keep it about 6" deep and have a pile waiting if I need to fill in any low spots.

 

[chfite]

Yes, indeed. 6 inches of sand to the rescue.

Drains well, easy to clean.

Chris