Rain! Rain! Rain!

[moawahine]

I live in one of the rainiest towns in my state - averaging 130" year.

Any tips/suggestions for muddy runs?

 

[CluckerFamily]

I have a covered run and I built it on concrete blocks so that it is higher than the ground outside of it.
Good drainage is needed for rainy places.

 

[3KillerBs]

Lots and lots and lots of dry organic litter.

Aged wood chips, the kind you get from the tree service, are good for providing excellent drainage while absorbing a reasonable amount of moisture and keeping chicken feet up out of the mud.

I have pine straw available free for the raking so that's what I use. It's less absorbent than straw, shavings, or wood chips, but because the pine needles have a waxy coating the top dries out very quickly once the sun starts shining again.

Roofing the run can help.

Also making sure that your land is graded correctly so that water neither runs through the run nor pools in the run.

In addition to that, you can put some pallets up on blocks or provide other similar structures for the chickens to sit on up off the muddy ground.

 

[3KillerBs]

 

[moawahine]

I have a covered run and I built it on concrete blocks so that it is higher than the ground outside of it.
Good drainage is needed for rainy places.

Does that mean your run has a floor?

 

[CluckerFamily]

Does that mean your run has a floor?

My floor is dirt, sand, and organic matter. Just the framing of the run is on concrete blocks.

 

[Mtnboomer]

I have a covered run and I built it on concrete blocks so that it is higher than the ground outside of it.
Good drainage is needed for rainy places.

Wow! Cover it is the 1st and obvious suggestion.
The 2nd is to create a drainage area beneath your run. Digging down 8-10" and removing all materials. Line with soil separator fabric. Lay a 4" perforated pipe in the middle (multiple pipes may be needed depending on size of run. If multiple lines are used, connect them all before exiting the run area and daylight as soon as possible). Backfill the area with 6-8" of gravel (nothing smaller than #57). Wrap the top with more soil separator fabric. Top the fabric with a minimum of 4" of sand or 2 " of sand and 2"+ of coarse wood mulch. Nothing fine or will clog at the surface.