Need help for a run on a sloped yard

[BlindLemonChicken]

I am in NC too and the clay is a pain. I wouldn’t add wood to equation because of mold, which is something I have struggled with since my coop is in the shade. It might be worth adding gravel or something more porous.

 

[ChiknMama1983]

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.

Thank you! We have talked about adding a French drain in which I think is essentially what you are describing.

 

[ChiknMama1983]

I am in NC too and the clay is a pain. I wouldn’t add wood to equation because of mold, which is something I have struggled with since my coop is in the shade. It might be worth adding gravel or something more porous.

We have considered gravel too, hoping that the weight to that will stay in place. Do you think gravel would be uncomfortable for the chickens to walk on? I know, I’m worried about mold too with wood, just not sure how else to effectively make it level and cover the clay mess.

 

[ChiknMama1983]

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

We currently have a wood border, but in spots at the bottom of the slope, the sand washes away over the wood. I feel like we need to make it level and I really would like to cover the clay mess.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

We have considered gravel too, hoping that the weight to that will stay in place. Do you think gravel would be uncomfortable for the chickens to walk on? I know, I’m worried about mold too with wood, just not sure how else to effectively make it level and cover the clay mess.

I think if you mix put something on top of the gravel it would be good. I was thinking wood chips because they do break down but I haven’t used them in this climate so I’m not sure that’s a good idea. With proper drainage it might work

 

[Ridgerunner]

Photos could really be helpful.

Exactly what I'd suggest for terracing would depend on how steep the slope is and how big your run is. Since you don't want wood, use something like brick or cinder blocks, maybe pour a concrete strip, across the slope to form a series of flat areas where the soil is held in place. That should stop the worst of the erosion. Gravity will still pull some clay downhill when they scratch so you may occasionally need to use your shovel to move some dirt back uphill. Any bedding, especially anything that can float, will probably be moved downhill when it rains.

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.

Local drainage patterns play into this. If rainwater is entering the run from above or the sides a diversion ditch or installing a barrier to divert the water could be a very good thing.

If you use gravel, consider pea gravel or some other rounded rocks that are smooth. Crushed gravel can have sharp edges that might hurt their feet when they scratch.