mud and flooding problems

[bantamboy]

i have a bad problem with mud holes and flooding the run the coop stays nice and dry but the run is horrible and smells, i know it cant be good for the poor chickens, what do i do?

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Can you build up the run with some sand? Put something around the bottom edge to hold it in and fill with some sand. You could use a board or concrete block, anything like that. Then the water should drain out of the run and it should stay drier.

 

[Celtic Chick]

You could also break down some straw bales & scatter them around to bring the height up.

 

[patandchickens]

See my 'fix a muddy run' page, link in .sig below. It is not necessarily as simple as just dump some <whatever> in there -- a multi-pronged approach is usually necessary, and you want to think real carefully about what you add to the run so's not to make the problem worse long-term.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[bantamboy]

thanks everyone ii think i am going to try some gutters or something equivelent to help keep the water from getting in the run in the first place, any ideas or suggestions as what i could use besides actual gutters they get kinda pricey haha

 

[patandchickens]

You can often find old gutters that have been taken off a house (reroofing, replacement, remodelling, whatever) that may not be in mint condition but are just FINE for a coop. Try keeping an eye out as you drive around in daily life, and try to notice if you see someone doing something that may result in gutter removal, or gutters sitting in a dumpster in someone's driveway. (Ask first, of course).

In principle you can do lengthwise slicing-up of PVC pipe to make something to use as gutters, but this tends to be at least as expensive as real gutters and not work as well, not to mention a PITA to construct unless you have a good table saw; I would really NOT recommend it except if you have a teeny coop and need proportionately-teeny gutters.

Your other option is to make wooden gutters out of boards; use good quality construction adhesive within the (screwed and glued) joints, paint the bejeebers out of it with something pretty serious after having done a super good prep job on the wood, then have it leak anyhow.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat