My small solution to a muddy run

[blurose]

I use the deep litter method in my henhouse but still have all of the shavings completely changed about every 3 months. When DS does this, he tosses the old shavings out into the run. This makes a nicer surface to walk on than the mud which would otherwise prevail and my girls think they've got buried treasure to find all over the place.

 

[artsyrobin]

that sounds great- i have been wracking my brain trying to figure what to do with this run.. i will try that since its supposed to be dry for a few weeks

I did put a raised board to get them above the mud pit- when it rains hard we get the flooding on one side, after A few hours it drains - the bottom picture is the outside of the run

 

[blurose]

Robin,

I think you've got a much bigger problem than just mud. I think you need to put in some ditches to divert the water from your run first.

 

[Highland Moongazer]

Wow! You need a drain! You could run a pipe or three under the run so that the water doesn't bother the chickums, then throw all the litter on top.

 

[artsyrobin]

Yep, we were sitting out there yesterday discussing options, raising the cement barrier, then building up the channel to divert the water- we don't see heavy rain that often, but when we do it causes our wet weather creek to run- i think drainage pipes are a must... lots of hind sight- we were more concerned about predators, and the coop is on our porch with run below it...so i could keep them locked up if necessary

 

[Highland Moongazer]

Or tiny boats. Tiny boats would be fun *and* cute.

 

[LizzyJo]

How about ducks instead of chickens?

 

[LizzyJo]

Quote:
Around here we call them ick-ens.

 

[Mahonri]

Wow... chickens with a swimmin' hole!

 

[gsim]

And so nice when the water moccasins come to call!