uncovered run

[Nashelle]

Hi, my six chickens have an uncovered run, which was great in the summer - it has bushes for them to shelter under - but I'm concerned that when there a lot of rain the ground will turn to mud. Also in bad weather they can't make dust baths. How do other folk with uncovered runs manage?
I've just been given the responsibilty of the birds and and I'm finding this forum very helpful.

 

[crazychickenman007]

Welcome to BYC! Where are you located? Are winters harsh with a lot of snow? As long as the ground drains well and water doesn’t sit it usually dries out pretty quickly for me, I just have a dirt floor for the run for my main coop. I have a smaller coop that I am using as a grow out pen and that one stays somewhat wet without some help. In that run I use a combination of pine shavings with pelletized horse bedding that I just turn over and add too depending on how it’s looking. The pellets really dry out the ground nicely to keep the chickens feet clean (or clean for a chicken) and dry. Sorry for the long winded response

 

[rosemarythyme]

What's the drainage like in your soil? What's your climate like?

I have good existing drainage, so that's no issue as far as rain. I use deep litter to control mud and odor. For dust baths, I have a covered dust bath (Little Tikes turtle) so it stays covered and dry during bad weather, and gets opened up for access in better weather.

 

[Percheron chick]

My runs are not covered because they are large and irregular in shape. Rain and mud is not a problem in the runs (other than run off from the goose swimming pool). I use litter in the run. Pine needles, straw, hay, leaves, wood chips... only the free stuff. I stash extra material to cover the snow which will soak up the moisture and give them a snow free area to walk around on. Building up the level of the run, having a good base, diverting roof run off with gutters and drains, having trees and shrubs planted around the run to suck up the water are ways to deal with excess water. Now 1-2" of rain is a rarity but I do have heavy clay soil and the horses can turn 1/4" into a slip sliding mess. A small roofed structure is a nice addition to the run. Gives you a place to put feeders outside as well as a dust bath area (kitty litter pans work in a pinch) or just a dry place to sun bathe.

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC.

Where, in general, are you? Climate matters, especially when it comes to housing.

The two keys to preventing mud in an open run are:

A. Drainage! Do anything necessary to keep water from pooling in and/or running through your run.

B. Plenty of dry organic material for run litter. Coarse wood chips -- the kind you get from a tree-trimming service -- are often considered the gold standard for the management of mud and odor, but you can also use wood shavings, wood pellets, straw, pine straw, fall leaves, ground corncobs, yard and garden waste of many kinds, and more.

 

[Nashelle]

Thanks for your replies. I'm in Wales, UK.
The run is also an irregular shape with a dirt floor. Drainage is good. We've been having a lot of rain and it could carry on now into the winter.

 

[3KillerBs]

Thanks for your replies. I'm in Wales, UK.
The run is also an irregular shape with a dirt floor. Drainage is good. We've been having a lot of rain and it could carry on now into the winter.

Adding dry organic material should keep the mud down. Whatever is locally abundant and inexpensive.

 

[Percheron chick]

Sometimes you just have to go through a winter and figure it out on the fly. Go out during a good hard rain and figure out where the rain is coming from and where it is flowing. Time how long it takes for the puddles to soak in. However, living in the UK, it might be a losing battle . If you don't have the breaks in the weather with some sun and wind it might just be too much. I would add a covered area right outside the coop to give them a dry outside area just so they get some out time.

 

[3KillerBs]

I would add a covered area right outside the coop to give them a dry outside area just so they get some out time.

I have noticed that my chickens seem to like a "porch" area. Any time I set up a covering of some sort next to the door they use it for shade, rain shelter, dustbathing, etc. -- being out but not fully in the weather.

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

I have noticed that my chickens seem to like a "porch" area. Any time I set up a covering of some sort next to the door they use it for shade, rain shelter, dustbathing, etc. -- being out but not fully in the weather.

I've noticed this too. I put a shelf in their run and I see they hang out there all the time under it in the shade, or sitting on it to spy on the rest of the garden. they like the dark 'protected' feel I think of little porch areas