Muddy Outside run

[Kacey I15]

we have an outside run with no roof over it just fencing and every time it rains it gets muddy and of course smelly any suggestions on what to put done to prevent it from getting so muddy?

 

[thatotherfarmer]

I have the same thing. Either deal with it because the sun will always dry it out again, put a roof over it, or put hay down. The hay won't really help a whole lot, but it will make it look not as bad.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Can you till gravel and sand into the ground to increase drainage? Does your soil have high clay content?

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

The coop of the week or month ad on here had a good idea, they dug a 1-1 1/2 foot trench all the way around there run and filled it in with gravel, the water would drain threw the gravel and sit on the bottom of the trench. I have never tried it but should work like a perimeter drain on your house, only further step would be actually placing a perimeter drain under the gravel to take the rain water away from the area.

 

[OKusmcChckens]

I had the same problem, especially this spring with all the rain. I put about 2-3 inches of sand in when it was reasonably dry and no more mud. Easy to clean. Just shovel sand through a strainer and throw out the poop that is trapped.

 

[numzldr]

I had that problem a few yrs ago n took care of it by scattering a bale of straw out about 6"deep.The birds love it the bugs love it the worms come up undetneath n love it so the birds love it even more.

 

[Kacey I15]

I had that problem a few yrs ago n took care of it by scattering a bale of straw out about 6"deep.The birds love it the bugs love it the worms come up undetneath n love it so the birds love it even more.

I had the same problem, especially this spring with all the rain. I put about 2-3 inches of sand in when it was reasonably dry and no more mud. Easy to clean. Just shovel sand through a strainer and throw out the poop that is trapped.

The coop of the week or month ad on here had a good idea, they dug a 1-1 1/2 foot trench all the way around there run and filled it in with gravel, the water would drain threw the gravel and sit on the bottom of the trench. I have never tried it but should work like a perimeter drain on your house, only further step would be actually placing a perimeter drain under the gravel to take the rain water away from the area.

Can you till gravel and sand into the ground to increase drainage? Does your soil have high clay content?

I have the same thing. Either deal with it because the sun will always dry it out again, put a roof over it, or put hay down. The hay won't really help a whole lot, but it will make it look not as bad.

Thank you for all the great suggestions and unfournetly I can not put gravel in there not the type of ground for it but I will try hay and maybe a trench thank you!

 

[thatotherfarmer]

I had that problem a few yrs ago n took care of it by scattering a bale of straw out about 6"deep.The birds love it the bugs love it the worms come up undetneath n love it so the birds love it even more.

What was it like when it rained?

 

[numzldr]

What was it like when it rained?

Wet straw.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Didn't it get moldy? Or did you replace it every time it rained?