wet ground

[patandchickens]

Those having wet/flooding problems might wish to check out my "fix a muddy run" page, some of which might be useful (both long- and short-term solutions)

Fortunately we are having an extremely average December here, both in terms of temps and precip -- I do not envy y'all who are getting poured on!

Pat

 

[Tdub4chiks]

I know this sounds strange to some, but we got so much snow so quickly a couple of weeks ago, the ground didn't have time to freeze, so when I shovel to the coop, there's nothing but mud underneath. I had to put a piece of plywood in their run sitting on some 2x2's. At least their feet aren't sitting in the very cold water in their pen. I also made like a ramp with dry wood shavings so they could get to the plywood without walking in the icy water. They seem to be doing fine, but they do stay in the coop alot more lately.

 

[chkn]

I threw alot of dry leaves in their run and house before the rains. I have an outer run that's not covered. The leaves I threw in there are all wet and it's a total mud pit. I've had to work on some drainage and water diversion around that area. Boy, as soon as it dries out some I'm going to dump a lot of river sand in there. I wish I had done it before because it's just a disgusting mess. At least they're better off since their inner run is for the most part covered. They seem content.

 

[gumbii]

Quote:
river sand eh...?


my uncovered run has grass... but the wood kind of made it puddle up.. i have to design some kind of draining system... but the sand would work for me as well... thanks for the idea...

but as soon as it dries up, man, i have a bunch of cleanup to do for only 20 birds... i hope that the next rainy season i'll be a little more prepared... i'm hoping to get about 40 more birds... sigh...

 

[jaloola]

I have been putting sand into the run to keep the mud down. The girls love it and every few days have turned it all in with the mud. It's helping to condition the soil! Our rain isn't quite as serious as So Cal but it's been pretty wet. Before I started adding the sand their feet were covered in sticky mud.

 

[Muscovies]

I get mud into my pens all the time and put sand in there to keep it from getting muddy but it still does the muscovies love it

 

[B'villechicken]

Quote:
As you know, tha sort of thing happens alot in the Syracuse area. If your run has good drainage the rest of the year, it shouldn't be a problem. In fact, I usually prefer a heavy snow cover as it keeps the ground from freezing deeply. If your drainage is marginal, however, you may have to put that on your "to do list" for the spring. We have alot of sand & gravel pits here in the area. I got a 10 wheel dumptruck load of a mixture of coarse sand & 1/2" stone used for driveways. It works great when spread 6" deep in the run. If you need references, PM me.

David

 

[BooBear]

Saw on the News how folks in California are being either washed away or burried in mud. Hope you guys managed to escape the worst of the big storm hitting California.
Due to the unusual weather you may not be able to get away from the mud for awhile, just make sure the hens have a high place to escape to when they need it. (may need to get them a boat for a coop if yal keep getting slammed)

 

[Chickenkate17]

Quote:
Thank you! I think the worst is over. Just a little more rain for Christmas...and hopefully just a few more inches in the next couple months...and then longer days=eggs!

 

[onthespot]

We got POUNDED!!! Best I can tell, this past storm week we got around SIXTEEN inches of rain. That is more than we get in some whole years! On top of that, there was a blow out through a rodent hole of some sort in the bank from the neighbors above, and the slope of the yard funnelled it under my roofed area, turning two thirds of my pens into muddy slurry three or four inches deep, with little pools here and there. I diverted the water from the mouse hole to run outside the pens, and bought six bags of shavings and bedded the pens down heavily and made sure there was plenty of high ground. Seems to be working for now. Crossing fingers for the next storm.