Mucky, Muddy, Stinky Run after Torrential Rains

[donrae]

We use DG and it works great!!!!

That's great to hear! How big is your run and how much did you use?

 

[RonP]

If it stinks, your nitrogen levels are too high, and oxygen levels are too low.
Manure is a hot nitrogen source.

Adding greens will just make it worse.

As you noticed, carbons are the answer.

Pile on wood chips, not sawdust, to add aeration and carbon.

I would aim for 6 inches or more, which will also create an artificial hill, allowing water to drain naturally, and avoiding the mud...

 

[kittybethaustin]

I'm having the same problem with muck that isn't drying out. Currently mine is just dirt which I normally can rake up the majority of the poop and throw it in the compost bin. If you use DG or sand for the floor how do you clean the poop out?

This is my question too. Now that I have sand in part of the pen, do I continue with DL method on top of the sand? The sand improved the mud problem immediately. I need more but what I was able to put in between rain storms helped a lot. The type of sand I got is basically DG that is further decomposed. I put wood shavings in Friday night in the coop areas since those had gotten damp from so much rain. That was also greatly improved. I think I haven't been putting enough "brown" in for damp times like we're having now. If there's a lot of water, there needs to be more carbon down to help absorb it. I'll fluff everything up when it starts to dry out some.

 

[OKusmcChckens]

We are definitely not doing deep litter. I'm trying to figure out if I put sand down, how do I clean it?

 

[lovemy6hens]

We are definitely not doing deep litter. I'm trying to figure out if I put sand down, how do I clean it?

Think of it like a giant litter box that needs to be scooped out frequently. We use a long-handled dust pan with holes drilled in it. That works well for a while, but eventually it will get nasty. A great solution was posted on BYC by @johanssonmel here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/950388/panning-for-poop

 

[kittybethaustin]

I think in the other thread sand was actually mentored in the run with the dlm. Can't remember the specifics though. Mine love the fresh rankings to dig through. Just put some in this morning.

Which other thread? I'd like to look up what they say about doing DL with sand. I don't see many people who do that and certainly not with big, uncovered runs and open air coops. It may not be possible to truly do DL in the run but perhaps a hybrid version of it that I clean out more often than once or twice a year. I just can't scoop the poop for as many chickens as I have, so true sand method is out for me. I think adding DG to hill up the top half of the run is going to be my best bet for a long term drainage solution. Then I'll put sand in the remainder of the pen so when it rains it's not slick mud underneath the straw and leaves. We got another downpour after I put the sand in this weekend. It was MUCH better. I think DG would be better but I had to do what I could for now.

 

[monkcat]

Which other thread? I'd like to look up what they say about doing DL with sand. I don't see many people who do that and certainly not with big, uncovered runs and open air coops. It may not be possible to truly do DL in the run but perhaps a hybrid version of it that I clean out more often than once or twice a year. I just can't scoop the poop for as many chickens as I have, so true sand method is out for me. I think adding DG to hill up the top half of the run is going to be my best bet for a long term drainage solution. Then I'll put sand in the remainder of the pen so when it rains it's not slick mud underneath the straw and leaves. We got another downpour after I put the sand in this weekend. It was MUCH better. I think DG would be better but I had to do what I could for now.

It was mostly how to do deep litter if sand is already there. It basically is to mix and incorporate it so it becomes part of the compost material. My understanding is that the sand will eventually get stinky. I do not know this from personal experience. Just my readings on here. The beneficial bugs and worms cannot get through the sand. If it is incorporated into the mix, it adds to the compost/soil as the litter breaks down. I think it was in the results after first year of deep litter method thread. For me, so far, deep litter is working. But of course, we all have different environments. There are several deep litter threads. Really had to read through all of it to get the information I needed. IF I find it I will link to it.

 

[kittybethaustin]

It was mostly how to do deep litter if sand is already there. It basically is to mix and incorporate it so it becomes part of the compost material. My understanding is that the sand will eventually get stinky. I do not know this from personal experience. Just my readings on here. The beneficial bugs and worms cannot get through the sand. If it is incorporated into the mix, it adds to the compost/soil as the litter breaks down. I think it was in the results after first year of deep litter method thread. For me, so far, deep litter is working. But of course, we all have different environments. There are several deep litter threads. Really had to read through all of it to get the information I needed. IF I find it I will link to it.

Thanks I"ll look for it too. I see a lot of threads about deep litter in coops but not for the runs. I'll keep looking though. There's a LOT of info here to dig through. Since the climate here is usually dry, DL should work. The current rain is very much an anomaly.

 

[monkcat]

Thanks I"ll look for it too. I see a lot of threads about deep litter in coops but not for the runs. I'll keep looking though. There's a LOT of info here to dig through. Since the climate here is usually dry, DL should work. The current rain is very much an anomaly.

I do see that a lot of people use it in the run as well. My run is mostly grass - right now. That'l change! And I am throwing leaves and stuff in there as I need to, muddy or dirt areas. I am leaving some areas that are just dirt so they can have a good dust bath though!

 

[kittybethaustin]

It was mostly how to do deep litter if sand is already there. It basically is to mix and incorporate it so it becomes part of the compost material. My understanding is that the sand will eventually get stinky. I do not know this from personal experience. Just my readings on here. The beneficial bugs and worms cannot get through the sand. If it is incorporated into the mix, it adds to the compost/soil as the litter breaks down. I think it was in the results after first year of deep litter method thread. For me, so far, deep litter is working. But of course, we all have different environments. There are several deep litter threads. Really had to read through all of it to get the information I needed. IF I find it I will link to it.

Found that thread. I'll be reading through it. Thanks for the tip.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/643302/results-from-first-year-with-deep-litter-method