what do you do with the out door run once the grass is gone

[5th lake chick]

What do I do to keep the feed that is scratched on the ground and masshed into the dirt? After a rainy day the food that had fallen to the ground and been tramped into yhr dirt turned moldy, I had to dig it all up. How do you prevent this from happening. I can't keep diggin up the ground in the run? !st summer with chickens

 

[Mahlzeit]

I have the water for my chickens out in the run but I feed them inside the coop. I have a 30lb hanging feeder in the coop for that very reason. If the pellets fall to the ground they get picked up by the hens and eaten so the rain can't make them wet and moldy.

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

I have a dirt run (didn't take chickens long to destroy the grass) and I can't throw feed on the ground there because they don't eat it, and well, yeah, you get the rest. I do go out there and break up the dirt with a shovel every month, or 2 weeks or so so they can scratch more. Although if it is a dry where you are as it is here, rain isn't really that much of a problem. Drrrrrrrrrryyyyy.....

 

[chickenlover89]

yeah i would say put their food inside OR get a hanging feeder, OR both!

 

[Chickie-chan]

I have the water for my chickens out in the run but I feed them inside the coop. I have a 30lb hanging feeder in the coop for that very reason. If the pellets fall to the ground they get picked up by the hens and eaten so the rain can't make them wet and moldy.

Same with me. But I have water in the coop as well. I keep a large shallow tub full of water outside too. They like to stand in it to keep their feet cool.
Once the grass was gone in my run, I put the mowed grass in there after the yard is mowed and I clean it out and put fresh grass every week.

 

[1muttsfan]

I also feed my hens with a hanging feeder inside the coop - keeps the feed clean and dry and away from varmints.

In the summer I leave the ground bare, in the fall, winter and spring I put in straw or hay to keep them out of the mud and give them something to scratch around in.

 

[Wallygator]

Get mulch? I'm not sure if it might be hurtful on their feet?

 

[Wallygator]

Currently I have leaves in it so they break it up and it becomes dirt a lot faster

 

[chickenbythesea]

I put pine shavings out in their run as well with the food inside. The shavings absorb just about everything and it keeps the floor of the run from being compacted. Every once in a while I take the rake and I turn all the shavings over but generally it dies up and fluffs up in the sun.

 

[7L Farm]

I'd put sand in the run. It will build the run up which will keep the run from being a mud hole when it does rain. Plus, the chickens can take a dust bath. Then as mentioned add some leaves to the run in the winter months.