Soggy and hot climate-- best run maintenance?

[FraggleFlock]

I live in Southern Louisiana, which is hot and WET. It rains almost every day, even if only for a little bit. I'm building a waterproof coop, but am baffled on how to keep litter in my run without having it mold and mildew. I cant leave bare dirt, because it just stays muddy. If I put straw, it molds/mildews. I do have a covered run, but this is swampland, yall. Suggestions please!

 

[azygous]

If you use the deep litter method, your warm humid climate can greatly assist decomposition and work well for you. However, you still need to prevent rain from falling on it and runoff from flooding it.

Consider roofing your run. Provide for ample overhangs. Trench around the perimeter to divert runoff, and install rain gutters to further divert rain shedding from the roof so it doesn't run into the run.

And, ditch the straw. It has a tendency to harbor parasites as well as the tendency to mold. Your chickens' health would be much better off without straw. Dry leaves, wood chips and shavings are better bedding for your climate.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I second what azygous suggested! I live in a similar hot and muggy climate here in SE coastal Georgia. I have a covered run that is under the overhang of a tree and a small ditch runs behind it. It's one of the driest and shadiest areas in our yard.

 

[Mtnboomer]

Looks like everything is under control here I also agree with the above deep litter method.
It may be worth the time,effort, and money to install a gravel bed drain beneath the layer of litter. Dig out the run and place soil separator or landscape fabric down across entire bed (if you have heavy clay soil, add at least 1 perforated drain pipe set below grade of gravel bed and daylighted outside the run. Then add 3/4" gravel to a min depth of 4". Wrap top and sides with more fabric. The voids in the gravel will provide water storage and ensure good drainage.

 

[aart]

Drainage to keep water, from above and adjacent areas, from gathering in run.
If you can put a solid roof on run, would be good for both dryness of run and for shade.

Then wood chippings...and some other smaller dry plant matter.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Agree with what others have posted. Anything you can do to position your run (or grade around it) so it’s the “high point” will help with drainage, as well.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Coarse sand if you don't want to roof your run

 

[BigMamaRenee]

I'm having the same issue with my chicken pens. I have tarps over my big chicken pen, bc of chicken hawks. My husband refuses to help in any way, so everything is on me. He won't allow me to properly roof the pen. There is a run off that's tight behind my pen where water collects. If I feed my chickens in anything other than the containers or my chickens do their normal thing of scratching the feed, it gets moldy, especially after it rains.
I live in the central part of Georgia, around the Columbus area. We have very hot, humid & rainy summers...even if it's just a short shower here & there. My daddy's from Louisiana, so I can see why he & my mama chose this area...
I've thought about adding sand to my pen or pine shavings, but totally lost on that. I can dig around my pen if I need to...it's just the large money part that he won't allow, like for roofing or drainage projects. I can't buy gravel...
Any help would be great...I love my chickens & try to do everything in my power to keep them healthy & happy...they are my babies...

 

[alwaystj9]

My chickens just walk in water.
Sigh...South Louisiana here, too...
Free range, no real bedding. Hay in the boxes and they do have shelter (they go in the barn and poop on the goats) if they want it.

 

[David61]

Rain runs off my run as I dug a ditch and got it away from my run. I back filled the ditch with compost so its a walking path when its not wet. Looks cool.
My deep litter wood chip run stays dry even when the yard floods. Its netted for hawks and the rain doesn't effect the compost. It doesn't smell at all.