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

[gale65]

Quote:
We don't have a craigslist here. However, we grow wheat and make our own straw so we have lots of that lying around. Also our run is 250 sq feet and we don't know enough people with trees who haven't already burned the leaves to fill it.

The run is normally not like this. We've had about 4 straight days of nonstop rain so anything would be a mess at this point. Usually a day or two of rain and it is muddy but not sloppy like it is now.

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
I had to redo the runs so they had slanted roofs. I figured out that I have enough pieces of ply wood bought at HD for $1 that I can cover the whole 16x8 run and then buy a roll of roofing for about $40. Alot cheaper than what I did on the other run, 8x24 with corrugated metal at $15 for a 24"x8' piece. $144.00? I still need a few more panels too.

I will put an over hang and a trench under that so the water flows away from the run. Now the run in the pic has a trench that I want to run to an area to turn into a small pond. It does dry out now eventually. Does anyone know how I can get it to hold the water? Or should I even bother?

 

[NinnyGillaspie]

what about pine shavings we get from Tractor Supply? They absorb alot of the moisture. My chicks are now getting used to it.

 

[emerald eyes]

Quote:
That is a great idea. Does the area collect enough rain water to supply an alternate water supply? My chickens seem to prefer to drink out of the pond (artifical with fish) than their watering can! Should I be worried about letting them drink out of the pond? I used to shue them away but it got to be a never ending task..so I gave up!

 

[bald egg]

I put fill lime in my run. It is the small stuff left over after they crush stone. It sells for $7.50 a ton compared to $25 a ton for sand. It compacts ok but the girls can still dig a dusting hole in it. It drains well and is not muddy and provides the grit they need. I am able to rake poo, feathers and left over grass and leaves thrown in for treats off the surface of the fill lime. Great Stuff!!!