What I learned today....

[Smileybans]

I learned today that hay does not make good run material. Pretty sure it was hay and not straw. Either way it isn’t good. At least for absorbing a wet muddy run.

Now I’m sure you chicken veterans could have told me that. But the google was iffy on it and my mom said it was a good idea. So I took her word on it. But this was back before we got all the snow. Then the snow melted and froze and melted and froze... and so on. This week the run started to stink. So I cleaned it out and found out why I was having so many sneezing and coughing chickens. The hay molded. They had stopped the sneezing and coughing but now are doing it again. Ugh! No more hay. Ever. Lesson learned. The hard way. Chopped straw or hay might work but the bails, what I used, are the worst.

Be gentle about my huge mistake. I’m beating myself up enough. But feel free to tell me what you learned today.

 

[N F C]

Sometimes we just learn things the hard way. Don't beat yourself up, you've fixed things up

 

[Smileybans]

Sometimes we just learn things the hard way. Don't beat yourself up, you've fixed things up

I seem to be good at learning the hard way. But I’m hard headed as well. I just wish my hard headedness didn’t have to come at the expense of my animals.

 

[Folly's place]

Wet runs will grow mold, and it's true that hay or straw are more of a pain to manage.
Having a roofed run is best!!! Plan on having one, even if it's small, when you can. And if there are drainage issues, fix them!
Look at @aart 's run; not roofed, but lots of wood chips (not black walnut), shavings, plant materials, all out there making a good place for the birds.
Chickens hate the snow, and we had a roofed small run (really a coop addition) built a few years ago. No more shoveling!
We have horses, and bedding stalls in shavings is worlds better than using straw! For foaling, we had to use straw, and hated it.
Mary

 

[Smileybans]

Wet runs will grow mold, and it's true that hay or straw are more of a pain to manage.
Having a roofed run is best!!! Plan on having one, even if it's small, when you can. And if there are drainage issues, fix them!
Look at @aart 's run; not roofed, but lots of wood chips (not black walnut), shavings, plant materials, all out there making a good place for the birds.
Chickens hate the snow, and we had a roofed small run (really a coop addition) built a few years ago. No more shoveling!
We have horses, and bedding stalls in shavings is worlds better than using straw! For foaling, we had to use straw, and hated it.
Mary

I switched to wood chips with crushed stone underneath. I read that the water will just go under the stone and sink into the ground. Keeping away from the chickens feet. I’m hoping that works out. April is the rainy season here in NY and I hope that I cleaned the run out and prepared it enough this time.

I’m putting an extension on my run and it’s going to be covered. Better than the current one is. Right now my current run roof has leaks in it. So I have to rip it off and put a whole new one on. That’s what I get for trying to do it right before winter I guess. My husband wants to peak the roof but I’m not sure it’s such a good idea. I’ve never seen it done before and I think all of our snow would still accumulate. He’s dead set on it though.

 

[theoldchick]

I had to use hay this winter to keep my hens out of the mud. Since I have good drainage the hay didn't mold but I agree it is a pain in the patootie. So the next time I dropped two intact square bales which allowed them to perch away from the mud and they enjoyed pecking the seeds. I also added plastic pallets which they used more than the hay. My next project is to put a roof on that run.

 

[Smileybans]

I had to use hay this winter to keep my hens out of the mud. Since I have good drainage the hay didn't mold but I agree it is a pain in the patootie. So the next time I dropped two intact square bales which allowed them to perch away from the mud and they enjoyed pecking the seeds. I also added plastic pallets which they used more than the hay. My next project is to put a roof on that run.

The horse bedding pellets worked well at absorbing all the water and I did have the whole bails. They loved the whole bails to jump on as well. But they molded on the bottom and I also ripped apart bails which started to compost, and ultimately stink. I know my run slopes downward but my biggest problem is the roof I have on it. After all the snow melted it just left puddles everywhere. Since the roof has holes in it. Going to get better roof material since I now have the run floor figured out.