The run is a muddy mess. What to put down other than sand?

[Framac]

Do you think Corn Stalks would work OK?

I currently have access to unlimited corn stalks.........

Chris

 

[roxyblue]

I was wondering the same thing myself. Last night it rained REALLY hard and when I walked into the run this morning to check feed/water WIPEOUT! slipped and landed hard in the mudd, it didn't take long for the girls to fly on my back

I have used hay/straw in the past but it always starts smelling and I don't wan't my girls to be exposed to that. Plus it is pretty hard to clean. I have also tried leaves in the run but again it is really hard to clean and starts to stink after a couple weeks. A lot of good ideas on here, I'll have to start trying them out.
thanks everyone!
-roxy

 

[suntex01]

How about a layer of mulch or wood chips?
They don't really get moldy...

I use pine straw just because with the pine trees in my yard I usually fill a couple bags per week that goes to the dump.

 

[BlazeJester]

It may be because of the humidity in SC, but my wood chips mildewed. I tried leaves (the long, slender oak kind) from my yard and apparently layered too deep as the dirt NEVER dried. It's raining cats and dogs here in SC, the run (they don't have a coop) is a muddy mess and I'm out of ideas of what to put in for them

Edited to add: Do those horse pellets do OK in the rain? More importantly, do they dry once it's done raining?

 

[rancher hicks]

No place could be wetter than here.. I just give them another bale of straw. I also toss the scratch and the "work" the litter. Just like a deep litter method, but inside the run. You just clean the whole thing out in the spring or whenever you like. I also dug trenches around the outside.

Oh and I forgot, my runs are covered.

You could use lots of gravel and sand and build up the run higher than the surrounding area.

 

[autumnprairie]

Quote:
That is actually what I am thinking about doing, for my goats and chickens with gravel and sand or gravel and something, I don't really want to have to do a french drain. It actually floods that badly to require them.

 

[BlazeJester]

It may be worthwhile to fork over the cash and cover the rest of the run. I have a cinderblock wall half built to shield the roost from slanted rain, but it looks like I'll need to execute that on two sides now. I currently have a mismash of corrugated PVC panels (expensive) and plywood... gotta see what I can find around. Thank goodness for the junkyard out back!!!

 

[gale65]

Quote:
The horse pellets will disintegrate when they get wet. Then they look like sawdust.

 

[lorihadams]

Leaves.....seriously....3 feet deep, they will scratch it up in about a week and mulch it down. Go on craigslist and offer to pick up leaves if people will bag them for you and pile them in. Straw is okay but here straw bales are like $3.50 each and I would rather get free leaves than pay for straw that will need to be removed. The leaves don't have to be removed at all, just pile more on. Give them some branches to get up on too...

 

[Stephanie739]

I'm trying pallets, and OSB on top. I use hay too.