Wet stinky run....

[WhoDatChick]

I’m right up the road from you and my run looks a lot like yours right now. Fortunately the rain is supposed to stop tomorrow and maybe we can dry out a bit. My plan is to rake out the wet, and add a couple of bales of shavings for now. In the future I want to try to raise the level of the run by a few inches, though I’m not sure how just yet, sand maybe...

What type of bales of shavings are you talking about? Is it just the pine shaving bags that you get from TSC? Or is that something different?

 

[WhoDatChick]

Would some type of potting soil be good to fill it in and raise the level of dirt?
Wasn’t sure if it’s safe for chickens or not...

 

[Melodychick]

It’s pine like the TSC shavings, but from a local feed store here in Picayune. I was also thinking about trying the pine pellets for the real low spots where there are puddles. They absorb a ton of water and turn into a fine sawdust. They work well in a wet horse stall. The area around your coop looks a lot like the area around my barn. I’m planning on getting that area graded if it ever dries out enough!

 

[Melodychick]

Not sure about the potting soils as they usually contain fertilizer that might not be good for the chickens if they eat it.

 

[WhoDatChick]

Hey... what about a bunch of bags of the “fine” pine shavings instead of the “flakes”? Maybe that would be more likely to soak up the wetness?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Would some type of potting soil be good to fill it in and raise the level of dirt?
Wasn’t sure if it’s safe for chickens or not...

Don't use potting soil, it often contains things like fertilizers and perlite. Plain garden soil or dirt with nothing added would be better, though the issue you have is drainage related so no matter what much stuff you add in, it's going to be wet.

 

[The Owens]

Hey... what about a bunch of bags of the “fine” pine shavings instead of the “flakes”? Maybe that would be more likely to soak up the wetness?

I use the fine pine shavings from TSC..it works really well and I just pile mine up in the center of my run and let the girls do the rest. It gives them something to do and they seem to really enjoy scratching around in the middle of the pile.

 

[blackdog043]

Wood chips will be the best thing to add to your run. I would add about 4 - 6 inches. Put some broken tree branches in there also. If you've ever walked on a deep mulched flower bed, that's what your looking to accomplish. Shavings & leaves added to what you have now will just compact and do nothing for your situation.

 

[blackdog043]

Adding some small logs would be a good idea also.

 

[aart]

My poor gals! I feel so bad for them!
I think I’m gonna try and build up the dirt higher... maybe some sand.. lots more leaves and pine needles...
What about putting in bags of potting soil? Like what you use for gardening??
I’d like more wood chips but those are all saturated as well, soooo...

No not soil or sand...use wood chips, large coarse ones...lots of 'em!

Wood chips will be the best thing to add to your run. I would add about 4 - 6 inches. Put some broken tree branches in there also. If you've ever walked on a deep mulched flower bed, that's what your looking to accomplish. Shavings & leaves added to what you have now will just compact and do nothing for your situation.

This^^^^

Adding some small logs would be a good idea also.

Yep, half bury them to absorb water.