Yucky yard

[NHgirl]

Hello!! We have had our chickens for 7 years now and their yard is so gross!! They have their run and then they have their part of the backyard fenced off for them. Over the years, the ground became compacted (although I often turn it over for them to collect worms) and when it rains, the ground surface becomes slick and goopy, almost slimy because the dirt doesn’t seem to filter, or allow the rain to pass through. ALSO..... it smells AWFUL!! There must be a way to help this. Please tell me what you all do!! We thought of adding sand, but not sure if that would work. Please help!!

 

[sylviethecochin]

DLM: https://the-chicken-chick.com/the-deep-litter-method-of-waste/

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

DLM: https://the-chicken-chick.com/the-deep-litter-method-of-waste/

Provided bioload (birds to space ratio) is appropriate, dlm all the way!

 

[aart]

Hello!! We have had our chickens for 7 years now and their yard is so gross!! They have their run and then they have their part of the backyard fenced off for them. Over the years, the ground became compacted (although I often turn it over for them to collect worms) and when it rains, the ground surface becomes slick and goopy, almost slimy because the dirt doesn’t seem to filter, or allow the rain to pass through. ALSO..... it smells AWFUL!! There must be a way to help this. Please tell me what you all do!! We thought of adding sand, but not sure if that would work. Please help!!

How many birds?
How big is run?
How big is 'yard'?
That slime is poop.
7 years and nothing done except the occasional 'turning'?
Pics of area would help.

 

[happyhens1972]

It also sounds like your yard would very much benefit from some serious aeration and drainage before prepping for the DLM. I had similar issues with an area of my paddock used by my goats and alpacas....it became very compacted and was not draining at all well. I hired an aerator (kinda like a mower but it spikes 10cm holes into the ground) and it has made an immense difference. It was fairly quick and very easy to use, it was self propelled, I just had to steer it, and it 'poked' 10cm deep holes, of about the thickness of my thumb, every 8cm or so right across the area. We then raked fine gravel into the holes to keep them free-draining. Whereas before, when it rained, the area turned into a a huge, smelly, slimy puddle but now....drained, clean and no longer smelly!!