So slippery and stinky!

[Sarjeanp]

Hi guys! I have a pretty decent sized fenced coop. During the summer, I rake the ground to keep it “clean”, but during these rainy months, it is HORRIBLE out there! Every step you take, your feet mush into the extremely slippery, muddy, extremely stinky ground. You risk breaking your neck with each step, it’s crazy. I have gone out with a shovel and tried to overturn the ground, but I swear what I flip over seems like moldy mud or something. I am at a loss.

 

[DickMidnight]

Hi guys! I have a pretty decent sized fenced coop. During the summer, I rake the ground to keep it “clean”, but during these rainy months, it is HORRIBLE out there! Every step you take, your feet mush into the extremely slippery, muddy, extremely stinky ground. You risk breaking your neck with each step, it’s crazy. I have gone out with a shovel and tried to overturn the ground, but I swear what I flip over seems like moldy mud or something. I am at a loss.

you need a good base of wood chips in the run and then you can pile in dry dead leaves and pine shavings.

i rake 3-4 big wheelbarrows full of leaves into my run every few days and my chickens scratch it down to nothing

i also scoop the dirty pine shavings from their coop out into the run and mix it in.

 

[Sarjeanp]

you need a good base of wood chips in the run and then you can pile in dry dead leaves and pine shavings.

i rake 3-4 big wheelbarrows full of leaves into my run every few days and my chickens scratch it down to nothing

i also scoop the dirty pine shavings from their coop out into the run and mix it in.

I have a bazillion leaves available! ‘tis the season! Can I just put wood chips and leaves on top of all this funk, or should I be attempting to do something to it first. And is it normal for what’s underneath all the slop to appear moldy?

 

[DickMidnight]

I have a bazillion leaves available! ‘tis the season! Can I just put wood chips and leaves on top of all this funk, or should I be attempting to do something to it first. And is it normal for what’s underneath all the slop to appear moldy?

first thing you need to do is figure out why you have water problems and address that. either some kind of drainage, re-grading the area, or adding a roof.

after that, wood chips as a base and other dry organic matter on top works great.

no idea as to the mold. maybe someone else can speak to that.

 

[RoyalChick]

I have a bazillion leaves available! ‘tis the season! Can I just put wood chips and leaves on top of all this funk, or should I be attempting to do something to it first. And is it normal for what’s underneath all the slop to appear moldy?

It sounds to me like you have a drainage issue and solving that is pretty important.
Without knowing what you are facing I can’t advise but it can be as simple as some berms and ditches to make sure surface water isn’t collecting.
In the meantime wood chips and even throwing some old pallets down to walk on will make it less icky.

 

[RoyalChick]

first thing you need to do is figure out why you have water problems and address that. either some kind of drainage, re-grading the area, or adding a roof.

after that, wood chips as a base and other dry organic matter on top works great.

no idea as to the mold. maybe someone else can speak to that.

Wet mud with organic material will mold.
It sounds like the area has become a bit of a sump and water is collecting. That needs solving!

 

[Sarjeanp]

Thanks guys, I'm going to head out there shortly and put in more elbow grease. I want my ladies to be comfy, for the yard to not smell, and us to not slip! I appreciate the input!

 

[aart]

Coarse wood chippings is your best bet.

 

[3KillerBs]

first thing you need to do is figure out why you have water problems and address that.

Just exactly what I was going to say.

No kind or amount of bedding will fix a drainage problem.

You have to figure out where the water is coming from and why it's collecting where it's collecting and then fix that.

 

[jreardon1918]

Location and pictures would be very helpful. Assuming you can figure out the water, wood chips would be great. We use garden clippings, lawn cuttings, leaves and what wood chips we get. Our covered run is a relatively, pleasant, non-smelly, non-slippery. stays unfrozen most of the winter.