Keeping a Chicken Run From Getting Muddy?

[donddon]

I suggest wood chips as the base for a deep litter system.

People who use sand successfully are generally in a dry climate where they can scoop poop from the run like cleaning a cat box. In a wet climate the poop melts into the sand and stays forever.

Deep litter is a form of cold composting that uses a mix of materials to digest both the poop and the materials -- turning them into odorless, useful compost which will, in due time, turn any soil into rich, black, fertile, absorbent but easy-draining soil.

I agree. Wood chips are the way to go. A local tree guy dumps chips free of charge. I started out with a couple inches and add a couple buckets daily. I'll dump a little on the poop and the rest into a pile. The chickens love to sort through it and they level it nicely. My run has been dry and odor free since March. I imagine one day I'll need to rake out the old and start over, but I don't see that happening any time soon.

 

[donddon]

I couldn't have a truck get to the chicken coop. You have to walk through a forest to get to it. Is there another way besides having it dumped on site?

Wheelbarrow and 5 gallon pails are a couple ways to move wood chips. They aren't very heavy.

 

[aart]

Be careful with using sod - you need to verify it does not have any chemicals such as fertilizers added to it. Sod is often doused in all sorts of stuff to make it grow.

Ditto Dat!

 

[mopalia]

Adding inches of dirt or sand will almost certainly be bad for the trees and may even kill them. Keep a distance away from the trunks with whatever you do. The pallets idea sounded good to me, and good for the trees.

 

[GA41]

A local tree guy dumps chips free of charge.

How/where do you store the extra chips until you need them? Great idea asking a tree guy to dump em!

 

[donddon]

How/where do you store the extra chips until you need them? Great idea asking a tree guy to dump em!

In my case, I have space. He just dumps them about 20 yards from my coops.

 

[GA41]

In my case, I have space. He just dumps them about 20 yards from my coops.

So they just sit in a pile outside in the weather? No need to cover them or anything?

 

[aart]

So they just sit in a pile outside in the weather? No need to cover them or anything?

Yep and Nope.

 

[3KillerBs]

How/where do you store the extra chips until you need them? Great idea asking a tree guy to dump em!

We've got a pile off in a corner of the property. I might try to convince DH to have the next one closer to the proposed site of the permanent coop so I don't have to haul it one garden cart at a time.

 

[donddon]

So they just sit in a pile outside in the weather? No need to cover them or anything?

In my case, I leave them uncovered. No problems.