I think I saw an ark today....advice needed.

[1stepcloser]

OMG it won't quit raining! My run is soaking wet and parts of it have about an inch and a half of standing water. Other parts aren't submerged...yet. Unforunately it is supposed to rain nonstop the next few days. Money is tight and I can't afford to go out and buy a bunch of sand. Could I throw down a bunch of straw I have as a quick fix? I understand I will be raking it up/composting it in a couple of weeks. I am just trying to come up with ways to keep my chickens from treading water.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

We just had our first big rain of the season - 3" in 24 hours. When my pens get soaked like that i throw down straw so the chickens and i will have something to walk on other than mud. It's a great quick fix.

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

As a quick temporary fix it will be fine. What really works here as a great base...and it doesn't get muddy...is limestone grindings or fines. After you put it down rake it around to make it level etc. It actually almost "sets up" after the first rain. It gave my chicken run a really nice base - that I can rake when it is dry. I had some of the material left over from our path and lane and threw it into the chicken run to test it out. I plan on getting more in the future. It really works great and keeps them out of the mud for the most part.

It wasn't very expensive I hope you can try it sometime...good luck. Dealing with mud really can wear you down.

 

[Joyryder]

I had a similar problem, the run got so muddy I needed ice cleats to walk in. Short term I used a bale of mulch hay $2.00. But it should be put down when the run is dry. Long term - I need gutters and a drainage ditch.

Take a look at the link below very good advice by Patandchickens

Big Ol' Mud Page (fixing muddy runs): https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642-fix-a-muddy-run

 

[lilchick]

After years of mud and mess I too finally went to using stone. It has fines in it and packs down to a really nice base. And when you shovel snow out of the pen it is easy to get right to ground level with snow shovel...
For you with money being tight try using wood pallets for the chickens to walk and stand on. It really works in a pinch! good luck..

 

[patandchickens]

I don't know if you've seen my muddy run page (link in .sig below), but it may have some useful ideas.

In your shoes, yeah, I'd probably use straw as a temporary fix if that was all that was around. It's just a lot of work to remove later on!

Trenching should help a good bit too, if you can do that.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[garngang]

1step closer i feel your pain! im here in arkansas and we are dealing with the same problems. its really frustrating i know!