Keeping a Chicken Run From Getting Muddy?

[Starburst]

Hi, everyone! This may be a silly question, but does anyone have any tips for keeping chicken runs from getting muddy? I live in Western Washington, where it's raining most of the time. My chicken run is big, about 30' square and I can't cover it. While I do have two huge evergreens growing in the middle, they don't stop most of the rain. The dirt is packed as hard as rock in half of it, and during storms, my chickens are sloshing around in the water, which can not be good for them. To sum it up, do any of you have any tips for making the dirt better draining and getting less muddy? Thanks!

 

[Mamas_Looney_Farm]

You could bring in some dirt loads or lay down some pallets? My chickens free range in a goat paddock so they have plenty of places to hide from the rain.

 

[Starburst]

My chickens free-range as well most of the time, but right now there are a ton of coyotes and cougars lurking in the forests in my area so it's too dangerous right now. This makes my chickens sad, and me sad, but oh well. Thank you for the ideas! Is there any type of dirt you would recommend?

 

[Rachela]

I think I’ve seen people mention sand or something that helps the water drain off

 

[Starburst]

Like more sandy dirt?

 

[Gallinarium]

Hi, everyone! This may be a silly question, but does anyone have any tips for keeping chicken runs from getting muddy? I live in Western Washington, where it's raining most of the time. My chicken run is big, about 30' square and I can't cover it. While I do have two huge evergreens growing in the middle, they don't stop most of the rain. The dirt is packed as hard as rock in half of it, and during storms, my chickens are sloshing around in the water, which can not be good for them. To sum it up, do any of you have any tips for making the dirt better draining and getting less muddy? Thanks!

Put four to twenty-four inches of sand on it. Sand drains much better than dirt. While it will be sandy mud while it is raining, it will dry fast. If you never want mud, use pea-rocks instead. With sand you can just comb it over with a yard rake to clean, but pea rock is harder to maintain. But, there's pros and cons to everything.

 

[Gallinarium]

Hi, everyone! This may be a silly question, but does anyone have any tips for keeping chicken runs from getting muddy? I live in Western Washington, where it's raining most of the time. My chicken run is big, about 30' square and I can't cover it. While I do have two huge evergreens growing in the middle, they don't stop most of the rain. The dirt is packed as hard as rock in half of it, and during storms, my chickens are sloshing around in the water, which can not be good for them. To sum it up, do any of you have any tips for making the dirt better draining and getting less muddy? Thanks!

Put four to twenty-four inches of sand on it. Sand drains much better than dirt. While it will be sandy mud while it is raining, it will dry fast. If you never want mud, use pea-rocks instead. With sand you can just comb it over with a yard rake to clean, but pea rock is harder to maintain. But, there's pros and cons to everything.

 

[Starburst]

Thanks! I will definitely do that? Do you think it is okay to mix the dirt with the sand?

 

[Starburst]

*I meant ! instead of ? for after that.

 

[SavyNic]

I've heard many people talk about sand needing to stay dry! I don't have any personal experience with it (although we will, as we are going to be putting it in our covered run). But I know there are many discussions on backyard chickens about sand here's one... hope it helps!
<https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wet-sand-in-the-coop.830914/>