Need help for a run on a sloped yard

[ChiknMama1983]

Our run is on a pretty deep slope and it’s driving me crazy! We live in NC so we have clay ground and it’s awful. Has anyone built a wood floor to level it out? I’m thinking about building a wood floor and covering that with sand. Any thing we put down as the base in the run washes away due to the slope and we are left with clay again. It’s impossible to clean and starting to smell. It gets no sun so when it rains for days it takes forever to dry. My poor girls get so dirty. Just looking for ways to help the situation while I dream of a flat yard

 

[Bsmac]

Really that sounds like about all you can do. I would set treated posts in the corners so at least going to have to dig 4 post holes. I would level the frame install the floor joists and fill in where the gaps in the frame are from where the ground is not level with treated lumber (AQC treated is Supposed to be the safest) since your ground is tough to dig clay. Of course use treated lumber on everything including the floor. Good luck!

 

[thecatumbrella]

Do you have some pics? Curious how bad the slope is.

 

[Virginiachickens]

You could do some terracing!

 

[ChiknMama1983]

Really that sounds like about all you can do. I would set treated posts in the corners so at least going to have to dig 4 post holes. I would level the frame install the floor joists and fill in where the gaps in the frame are from where the ground is not level with treated lumber (AQC treated is Supposed to be the safest) since your ground is tough to dig clay. Of course use treated lumber on everything including the floor. Good luck!

Thank you!!

 

[ChiknMama1983]

You could do some terracing!

I’m not sure what that is, but I’ll look it up. Thank you!

 

[jbj25]

You could just band the perimeter instead of of building a whole floor

 

[RoseHawke]

I’m not sure what that is, but I’ll look it up. Thank you!

Think of large "steps" except with dirt. Depending on the slope it might be best, it would also be the most work as there would be digging and then filling behind the retaining walls of the terraces.

 

[KyCoop]

Greetings from Kentucky with a sloped run and clay soil. Pictures will be very helpful. I can tell you there is a shovel in your future. The battle of the mud will involve Ditches, Dams, Drains, Roofs and Gutters. I added these things one at a time to see what would work.
First thing you need to do is dig a diversion ditch on the high side of your slope just outside of your apron if you have one. You are going to divert the water from coming down and running down and running through the run. That is step one.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

You might find this thread from eastern Tennessee helpful

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/finally-starting-on-my-coop.1648685/