Muddy Run

[TheEggCollecter]

I have had this problem for a couple years. I have a piece of property that used to be lush and green. It was complete with long grasses and lots of shrubbery, then I got chickens.

A few years later that lush area is now a brown, muddy poop pit. This year I am planning on growing grasses in there and make it green again. I have tried taking the hens out of that run for awhile in hopes that it will grow back but it isn't. Any ideas? Because I am out of them.

 

[3KillerBs]

First, how is the draining in that area?

You can improve drainage by digging ditches to divert groundwater in the desired direction and filling those ditches with gravel.

Do you use any bedding in the run?

I have 7 chickens in a 4x12 run and I find that I have to put 6" of leaves or pine straw into the run every 4-6 weeks depending on how wet the weather is. They are making very nice compost for me which I'm going to dig out in the next couple weeks for use on my garden.

 

[JadedPhoenix]

Try using one of these ground cover crops. I use oats. I throw them out to my chickens every day and make sure I throw out a lot in the parts of the run that has a bit less cover than in other areas. What ever the chickens don't eat grows and gives them fodder and take root as well. They love it.



Annyal Ryegrass
- Barley, Oats, and Triticale
- Buckwheat
- Cereal Rye
- Common Vetch
- Crimson Clover
- Fava Bean
- Field Pea
- Hairy Vetch
- Rapeseed
- Red Clover
- Subterranean Clovers
- Sudangrass and Sorghum- Sudangrass Hybrids
- Wheat

 

[TheEggCollecter]

Okay definitely going to try that. Where can I buy oat seed?

 

[JadedPhoenix]

I get whole oats (Make sure it isn't the rolled oats) at TSC. It is on the same aisle as the chicken feed.

 

[TheEggCollecter]

Okay, thank you for replying.

 

[azygous]

As long as you continue to have the chickens scratching around in that particular area, nothing will take root and grow. They will dig it up and eat it as soon as it sprouts, if not the seeds themselves.

Sand in the run might solve your problem. It drains nicely, and if you trench around the run to divert water that tends to run into the run, problem all solved.

Or you could have a tractor run. These are fenced runs on wheels so you can change areas often to avoid the chickens denuding it.

 

[JadedPhoenix]

Mine does well since they have a huge run for their numbers. I put out more oat seed than they could realistically eat which allows for it to have the chance to sprout. Works for me.

 

[TheEggCollecter]

Okay, I went over to TSC and bought some oat seed I will spread it over the run.