Layer up the run? Or clear it for compost?

[hop_skip_anda_heartbeat]

Hi All,

We are in our wetter season here in Salt Lake City. After a larger snow, I laid a bunch of hay out just to give the ladies some traction while walking around. It's getting to the point where its all muddy and snowy again, so I am wanting to put out more hay for the next month. At the end of spring/wet season, the plan is for everything to get tossed into the compost bin.

My question right now though: should I keep layering the hay throughout the wet season until I am ready to clear it all into the compost? Or should I clear our the dirty, muddy hay from last month before laying down the fresh layer?

Just looking for some best practice advice! Thanks in advance!

 

[DobieLover]

I'd remove the current mess and put down fresh. Otherwise, the entire thing is going to be one heck of a job trying to clean up in the spring.
I'd also be planning out what I was going to use to put a solid roof on my run in the spring!

 

[CatWhisperer]

We sodded our run this spring after 6 years of dirt covered by deep litter. The chickens free range during the day so don’t spend much time in the covered run. Watering the sod was kind of a pain but it still looks pretty good out there. Definitely recommend a covered run and add dirt, gravel, sod or something to raise the ground level to improve drainage.

 

[RaZ]

How big is the run and how much wet stuff is there?
I would pull it out now and put it in the compost. Depending on how big your compost heap is you can get some action through the winter.

I use a tractor with a bucket for mine. It a big pile.

 

[aart]

I'd remove the current mess and put down fresh. Otherwise, the entire thing is going to be one heck of a job trying to clean up in the spring.

Definitely!

I'd also be planning out what I was going to use to put a solid roof on my run in the spring!

...or at least look at drainage and run off issues.

 

[Ridgerunner]

What is easiest for you? I don't know how big that area is, how much hay you are talking about, or how hard it will be to move the hay in portions versus all at once. Also I don't know how much that hay will break down where it is if you leave it.

I can come up with reasons to move it or to leave it until spring. Will the old hay form a platform that helps keep the new hay cleaner? You did not mention run, you said area. Can you turn this area into your compost pile and avoid moving it at all? It's possible this could start to stink if it stays wet and your weather is warm enough. That could happen in days, it doesn't take a month.

Circumstances may give you a clear answer, but if that doesn't happen, which is easier for you?