Water in Run

[bokbokbokBOKBOKBOKBKAAA]

Hello, we will have a lot of snow melt this year and the chicken runs are starting to get flooded in areas. The ground is still frozen. What should I buy to fill in the runs -- wood chips? Whatever I put in will get very wet so I am concerned about mold. A lot of the chicken run area is under the coop so access isn't the easiest for trying to re-grade (and the ground is frozen). The run areas are large. Thank you.

 

[bokbokbokBOKBOKBOKBKAAA]

I used hay last year which worked well at keeping them above water, but one of the hens was addicted to eating it, so that is not going to be an option this year.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes wood chips, preferably in varied sized chunks and aged at least a few months, would likely be the best choice since they allow for drainage. Mold shouldn't be an issue as long as the chips aren't fresh.

 

[Debbie292d]

Is their entire run underwater or puddles? If you could put down wood planks to get them from one side or another, then let the water subside.

We're in WI, so don't know that your ground is any worse than ours, but it's thawed two inches down now. Hubby moved one of our growout pens last night to get them out of the water, and putting the posts back in took some work. The water is gone, and it's just muddy today.

If planks or moving it are not options, I'd go with the wood chips idea.

For muddy areas, you could use horse bedding pellets. That'll absorb the water and turn to dust-free sawdust.

 

[perkolator]

Wood chips and lots of mixed organics, enough to raise the terrain above the flood conditions, are your answer. It will be like the forest floor, which if I was a chicken I'd much prefer to forage through every day vs other bedding types.