Muddy run! Help please!

[lancasterflock]

Here in southern Oregon it has been rainy for the last few weeks on and off. My run is sooooo muddy. I actually slipped once! Anyhow, what is the most practical cost efficient way to fix this problem during these rainy months?

In the spring hubby and I plan on building a fully covered run. At this moment in time the expenses are not feasible. Suggestions!?

 

[Beekissed]

Here in southern Oregon it has been rainy for the last few weeks on and off. My run is sooooo muddy. I actually slipped once! Anyhow, what is the most practical cost efficient way to fix this problem during these rainy months?

In the spring hubby and I plan on building a fully covered run. At this moment in time the expenses are not feasible. Suggestions!?

When creating a bird habitat, think of where the wild fowl live....in the forest. Recreate that floor and you'll start to see and smell a huge difference in where your chickens live and they will be healthier and more content. Leaves, twigs, bark, small amounts of straw or hay~small, mind you, pine needles and cones, wood chips, etc. As deep as you can build it. No more mud, no more bad smells or flies. The litter pack acts like a big sponge, wicking moisture down, leaving the top springy and dryer. It keeps the soil under the run from becoming too compacted, thus allowing the rains to take the excess nitrogen of the manure down to the worms that will ascend under the litter for that nutrition. Try to avoid too much of any one material unless it would be leaves...that's mostly what you will find decaying on the forest floor. A lot of people want to use wood shavings but they are expensive and all one particle size, not letting air into the pile. Wood chips would be a better option than shavings, if you can get them as they have varying particle size and contain leaf matter.

You create food, activity and healthier footing for your chickens in one, cheap, easy to maintain move. You can then throw lawn clippings, garden refuse, kitchen scraps, weeds, etc. into that litter pack and what the chickens don't eat they will bury and the worms will consume it. They will be living on a living compost pile instead of a slick, muddy, poopy moonscape filled with little pools of putrid water.

And you can do the same thing in your coop:

 

[Chicken girl 15]

Ding ding ding... Duh ( not at you at me) . In the run toss in a bag of wood shavings and all the leafs and yard waste , and shredded paper and crumpled up paper. It help to build the ground up as well as gives bugs a place to hide for the chickens to find them. All vegetable scraps from the kitchen, toilet paper rolls , paper towel rolls. It all makes good run absorber.

 

[TalkALittle]

I completely agree with Bee on this one. I suggested pallets, but only as a temporary measure. Given your location, you're probably going to be dealing with these conditions each year. I'm in New England so I'm thinking my early spring is somewhat similar to your winter with regards to rain. I had drainage problems that created a wet, stinky run despite it being covered. I made the switch from sand to deep litter and haven't looked back.

 

[JanetMarie]

When planning a chicken and run, think of rotation. The ground recovers from the constant scratching while they're in the other area.

 

[janjan1]

My run was muddy aft ran too. We finally bit the dust and roofed & remodeled our whole pen. We also put plastic sheeting over the walls to avoid the rain from blowing in. The run is now covers with shavings which has greatly helped the quality of life our chicks have. They really enjoy it...in fact it's so nice we may move in ourselves.....

 

[TillyPeeps]

My township recycle center has free mulch available October - November every year. You may also get free mulch from landscape companies. As Beekissed mentioned, you can also add leaves, grasses, weeds, etc. to your run too. All these are free and will compost well.

 

[AuntNomi]

What I rake up in my yard goes in my coop floor. Have never had a problem and I live in Florida where it always rains lol. And the chickens LOVE it!

 

[TalkALittle]

When planning a chicken and run, think of rotation.  The ground recovers from the constant scratching while they're in the other area.

Unfortunately, many individuals lack the space to implement a rotational approach to chicken keeping. If I had more land, I would love to rotate my flock between paddocks planted with different cover crops through the year. Until that day comes I will have to do my best with our 1/2 acre of "eco-lawn", little backyard garden plot, and deep litter pen.

 

[JanetMarie]

Unfortunately, many individuals lack the space to implement a rotational approach to chicken keeping. If I had more land, I would love to rotate my flock between paddocks planted with different cover crops through the year. Until that day comes I will have to do my best with our 1/2 acre of "eco-lawn", little backyard garden plot, and deep litter pen.

I've seen poor flock owners who have acres of land but still choose to keep their chickens in a small muddy run, which many of you would put that land to good use for your flocks.