our run has turned to mud...what do i do???

[LeasureChix]

Being in the Pac NW, I have LOTS of experience with mud. I have had excellent success using wood stove pellets. You can buy the type for horse stalls, use which ever is cheaper and has no added chemicals. I use the pellets all over my farm. As it absorbs water, it turns to fine sawdust. Very absorbent and for some reason doesn't really mix into the mud. I like the pellets much better than shavings.

Good luck to you.

Julie

 

[claudicles]

I use something similar. I don't have a big problem with mud as my coop is on a slope but when we get a lot of rain the spots where the girls take dust baths turn to puddles for ages. I've been using a pelletised coir mulch. It is a 4kg bail and advertised itself as expanding to 60litres. I throw a chunk in the puddles and it absorbs the water and expands to fill the space. It seems to take quite sometime to break down after that.

 

[karlamaria]

Wouldn't covering the pen stop the mud mess? My pen is covered on top in the summer and nope not a drop of water in it, and in the winter totally wrapped up so nope no wetness. And if you see all the snow we get it's better to cover and wrap then deal with wet messes.

 

[happyhensny]

Quote:
Covering the run would be great if you can do it. You live in NY? We have leaves. Lots and lots of leaves. Fill up the pen a foot deep, they will compact, the hens will love scratching through them and will generate a bit of heat through decomposition and water will run through to the bottom-under the leaves.