I guess this comes under the heading of Maintenance.

[Sylviaanne]

How do I avoid the mud that keeps building in my run?

I have tried putting hay/straw over the mud but when it soaks up the water, I am sliding and sinking again. Putting more hay/straw over it does no better.

I have thought of putting sand down but I am not sure how well that will work.

I thought of advertising for dirt but I think it would end up being the same mess when it gets wet.

What can I do? Sylvia

 

[Blooie]

How do I avoid the mud that keeps building in my run?

I have tried putting hay/straw over the mud but when it soaks up the water, I am sliding and sinking again. Putting more hay/straw over it does no better.

I have thought of putting sand down but I am not sure how well that will work.

I thought of advertising for dirt but I think it would end up being the same mess when it gets wet.

What can I do? Sylvia

I'm using the deep litter method in my run, but from the sounds of it you get a lot more rain and moisture than we do here in the high desert of northern Wyoming. It sounds to me (and I'm no expert) that sand would be your best bet. Get construction grade sand for the better drainage, and I understand that cleaning the run is far easier with sand as well. Above all, get that wet hay/straw combination out of there if it's that bad. You don't want to fall and break a leg tending to your chickens, and it's probably not good for them either! Good luck!

 

[Sylviaanne]

I'm using the deep litter method in my run, but from the sounds of it you get a lot more rain and moisture than we do here in the high desert of northern Wyoming. It sounds to me (and I'm no expert) that sand would be your best bet. Get construction grade sand for the better drainage, and I understand that cleaning the run is far easier with sand as well. Above all, get that wet hay/straw combination out of there if it's that bad. You don't want to fall and break a leg tending to your chickens, and it's probably not good for them either! Good luck!

What is in your deep litter?

I am worried that the sand may not be good for them. Several years ago I read where they put something in the playsand that is used for children's sand boxes. Out here the mud is slick. I'm not used to this, I was born and raised in southern AZ, not so much mud out there. LOL I don't know which eats more grass, the chickens or the ducks. Seems like my four ducks eat more than my 12 chickens. We just moved their pen and it is more than half bare already. We don't keep them penned up all the time, maybe a night or two a week. Sylvia

 

[JadedPhoenix]

How do I avoid the mud that keeps building in my run?

I have tried putting hay/straw over the mud but when it soaks up the water, I am sliding and sinking again. Putting more hay/straw over it does no better.

I have thought of putting sand down but I am not sure how well that will work.

I thought of advertising for dirt but I think it would end up being the same mess when it gets wet.

What can I do? Sylvia

I grow weeds and oats in my run. I have a very green run. Weeds that folks hate to have in their yards are hardy and WILL grow in a run. Dandelions, chickory, and such are in my run. In addition, I throw out oats to my girls DAILY. I throw out more than they can eat and it sprouts and grows. The root systems help with the problems that you described. The only place I have to worry about getting a little soggy is right at the door where it swings inward and I solved that problem by putting a couple bags of sand there and that is where my girls dust bathe now. Oh, and just to let you know, I have that much greenery in a run with thirty chickens.

 

[Blooie]

What is in your deep litter?

I am worried that the sand may not be good for them. Several years ago I read where they put something in the playsand that is used for children's sand boxes. Out here the mud is slick. I'm not used to this, I was born and raised in southern AZ, not so much mud out there. LOL I don't know which eats more grass, the chickens or the ducks. Seems like my four ducks eat more than my 12 chickens. We just moved their pen and it is more than half bare already. We don't keep them penned up all the time, maybe a night or two a week. Sylvia

That's the reason everyone here recommends builder's sand, not play sand. Do a search in the "search discussions, reviews, articles and more" box at the top of the page for "sand in runs and coops". These people have done beautiful work, and their chickens are thriving. So many people wouldn't be doing it if it was unsafe - after all, they love their chickens as much as you love yours and wouldn't want them to come to any harm. If you are curious, you can also search "deep litter method". There are proponents for both, and lots of good information.

I use whatever I have handy for my deep litter, and the floor of my run and coop are dirt. The base is pine shavings, but I add leaves, grass clippings, a few weeds, and when I have garden waste it'll go in there too. Sorta becomes like composting....requires cleaning about once or twice year. There are also many people who are doing that very successfully. Some even use hay or straw added to their deep litter, but I've opted to do it in the way that works for me and that I'm comfortable with. One thing is unanimous - folks don't like mud and slimy surfaces one little bit.

 

[Sylviaanne]

I grow weeds and oats in my run. I have a very green run. Weeds that folks hate to have in their yards are hardy and WILL grow in a run. Dandelions, chickory, and such are in my run. In addition, I throw out oats to my girls DAILY. I throw out more than they can eat and it sprouts and grows. The root systems help with the problems that you described. The only place I have to worry about getting a little soggy is right at the door where it swings inward and I solved that problem by putting a couple bags of sand there and that is where my girls dust bathe now. Oh, and just to let you know, I have that much greenery in a run with thirty chickens.

How do you get the dandelions and chickory to grow in your pen? I have dandelions in my yard but might have to look for seeds for them and chickory to sprinkle in the pen yard. Where do you get your oats? I don't imagine you use anything from the grocery store. Right at the door way into the yard is where the mud and muck is the worst for my pen too. I will look for some sand. Thank you, Sylvia

 

[Sylviaanne]

That's the reason everyone here recommends builder's sand, not play sand. Do a search in the "search discussions, reviews, articles and more" box at the top of the page for "sand in runs and coops". These people have done beautiful work, and their chickens are thriving. So many people wouldn't be doing it if it was unsafe - after all, they love their chickens as much as you love yours and wouldn't want them to come to any harm. If you are curious, you can also search "deep litter method". There are proponents for both, and lots of good information.

I use whatever I have handy for my deep litter, and the floor of my run and coop are dirt. The base is pine shavings, but I add leaves, grass clippings, a few weeds, and when I have garden waste it'll go in there too. Sorta becomes like composting....requires cleaning about once or twice year. There are also many people who are doing that very successfully. Some even use hay or straw added to their deep litter, but I've opted to do it in the way that works for me and that I'm comfortable with. One thing is unanimous - folks don't like mud and slimy surfaces one little bit.

I started out putting hay/straw down but either it doesn't soak up the water or it doesn't soak up enough and it is still slimy and slippery. Is there a huge difference between pine shavings and hay/straw? If we can ever get a mower to work and work long enough to do the whole yard, I can throw those clippings into the pen. I know the chickens like the weeds and grass clippings that I put in there.

What do you do with your "composting" when you clean your pen and coop? Thanks, Sylvia

 

[JadedPhoenix]

How do you get the dandelions and chickory to grow in your pen? I have dandelions in my yard but might have to look for seeds for them and chickory to sprinkle in the pen yard. Where do you get your oats? I don't imagine you use anything from the grocery store. Right at the door way into the yard is where the mud and muck is the worst for my pen too. I will look for some sand. Thank you, Sylvia

I have always collected the weeds out of my yard and thrown them in to my chickens to let them eat the greens and they sort of sprouted on their own. You can buy seeds on-line though to get them started faster. I buy whole oats at Tractor Supply Company and they are out beside the rest of the chicken feed. Make sure you get WHOLE and not ROLLED oats. Now one more thing you can do is buy wild bird seed and it will sprout as well. That you can buy at the grocery store if you want. They love the millet that will grow as a result.

 

[Sylviaanne]

I do buy seed from the grocery store once in a while but it has been more than a while since I last bought some. I will check my feed store for whole oats and see what they have. Don't the oats soak up the water in their guts and swell? Sylvia

 

[JadedPhoenix]

Yes, they will absorb the water around them so that may help with some of your soggy problems. The chickens will eat on them but the trick is to put more out than they can eat so that some will sprout. Good luck.