Muddy Run from all the rain!!! Is it healthy for my chickens? Anything I can do for it?

[Peggy-Sue]

We use leaf cutting in our run

 

[Red Barn Farms]

We have the same problem as you. Aoxa has provided you with a great idea with the leaves. Once the rains are over we normally go into the run with hoe in hand and hoe the dirt some. Doing so will let it dry much faster. Normally we rake and hoe the run out every other week. Having chickens in the same area after awhile produces hot spots and it's best to till and turn the dirt over every so often to help keep it fresh and molds, fungus, etc from growing.

You could always add roofing over the top of the run area as well. We do use a cover which helps keep rain down to a minimum. It also blocks out 70% of sunlight.









We will probably go with the sand in the run next spring as our budget allows.

Editing to add:

This is normally how our run area looks once we finish with the back breaking work of using the hoe and rake.

 

[Ruth10]

I've got my chickens in a dog kennel area that is around the coop. With the warm temps we are having in NW Ohio right now the ground is kind of mucky. Not full on muddy, but not dry either. Can I put down the same pine shavings I use in the coop? or Straw? and how often would you replace it? Also can someone advise me on this: Every week when I clean out the coop I dust liberally with DE before replacing w/dry shavings, will this help control pests such as mites, etc? Thanks for any help.

 

[immel]

I know this is an old posting but my chickens too are in deep mud. I have a tunnel that I keep trying to move because our hens eat all the grass within a couple days so now they are down to dirt again and then it rains. oh dear. we try so hard to keep our hens happy ... but can't seem to keep them on grass.