My run..

[aart]

Drainage is essential. If any standing water gathers(after clearing out the mess) either add clean dirt to raise level and/or dig trenches to drain area.

Wood chippings are coarser than most bagged mulches.

My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

I started out with wood chippings stored at a buddies for about 6 months before adding to my runs.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Do you have any friends, neighbors, etc. that like to garden? I bet you could get them to shovel out and haul off quite a bit of that compost of yours.

I deep litter with whatever I can gather on our property: aged wood chips from chipped branches, dried leaves, dried lawn clippings, garden trimmings, etc. It does well to provide drainage and provides a little compost every so often, but as others have noted, you need to have good drainage or add drainage or water won't drain through properly.

 

[Cindy in PA]

Mine was the same after not tilling it for 2 years. I have added plants, grass, straw & leaves & everything disappears. When I tilled it, several layers came up & the run fluffed up 6 inches. We had an extremely wet year this past year. It finally rained for the first time since I tilled & all the water drained well. I plan to change my run in the fall & will be digging out some of the composted dirt. I never have enough to do deep litter in the 350 square foot run.

 

[blackdog043]

Wood chips as your main ingredient in your run, will work the best. I use tree trimming chips when I can get them and I also buy something called Echo Mulch at my local landscape store, it's a cheap($$) course undyed mulch. I add yard/garden waste and dried leaves on occasion.

Eco Mulch