What to do in the wet weather?

[Chicken Girl1]

And here's a pic of my run so you can see the sleepers and wood chips.

 

[Chicken Girl1]

I found this article helpful: Bedding Part 1: Comparing Materials

 

[NamasteJu]

And here's a pic of my run so you can see the sleepers and wood chips.

 

[NamasteJu]

Thank you

 

[Hbohm74]

I've read that natural sand is a wonderful thing to use in runs that experience wet weather. Compared to dirt, it drains very quickly and there are other benefits as well. I plan to use natural sand in my coop and run, with the addition of some Sweet PDZ in the coop. Though it is important that you use the correct type of sand, natural not manufactured. Here is a link to an article I was just reading about sand in coops and runs by the Chicken Chick: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/09/chicken-coop-bedding-sand-litter.html

I hope that helps, best of luck!

 

[Folly's place]

Deep bedding with wood chips, shavings, and plant materials, is best. Some grass clipping, hay, straw, and more shavings. If you scatter treats on it, the birds dig in and help make a nice base. Newer folks with small flocks, dry weather, and daily poop scooping, will use sand, at least for a while. Deep bedding, cleaned out once or twice a year, is so much more user friendly! Mary

 

[aart]

Here's a great description of contents and how to manage organic 'bedding' in a run or coop...and there's a great video of what it looks like.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1037998/muddy-run-help-please#post_16017992

 

[junkman56]

I added pine needles, pine shavings, and leaves to my run. I also put clear tarps on the sides of the run and a tarp over the top to keep out the weather for the winter. I plan on installing a permanent metal roof over the run this spring, with gutters to divert the rain away.


sides and top covered with tarps



the floor of run with the leaves, pine needles, pine shavings

I hope this gives you some ideas

 

[TJordan]

Gave me some ideas that's for sure. We suffered a coop fire this early summer and my birds are in large dog runs until we rebuild. Got roof to go and doors so fingers crossed. Anyway. The runs have become mud bogs in bad weather. I started adding pine shavings and putting pine straw or hay over it. It made the area higher and I dug a little water trench for drainage.

 

[SleepyHollowFnF]

I started to have this problem in my run and have had success with just piling a bunch of forest debris on the ground. Leaves, twigs, bark sections, all sorts of things. it helps with drainage and the chickens love scratching through it.

My other run for the silkies has large sections of grass and what isn't grass still has some of the original forest leaf cover and it hasn't turned sludgy at all. Keeping my fingers crossed