Rain,rain and more rain.

[Ditsy4]

Chicken pen has become very muddy so I was wondering what to put down as very wet and muddy.
They go out in the garden when I get home from work till bedtime.
What do you use? I was thinking of putting shavings down. Usually clen out the poo and any dry used I put under and use fresh.this has been in the covered area. It is very wet in the uncovered so I thought I would put some down to soak it up. However I thought some more knowledgeable chicken keepers might have a better idea. We can't move it unfortunately.

[froubylou]

They might perhaps eat shavings. Straw is pretty absorbant and easy to scrape up when it's dirty.

[cherrytree63]

My chickens have shavings in their shed, they don't eat them! Their outside pen gets muddy, but there's a few paving slabs dotted about so they've got something dry and hard to stand on.

[Ditsy4]

Ah, that's a good idea I have some paving slabs about. I could put one in each end. I thought they might eat straw so that is good to know. I have a farm up the road who said I could have some. I used to buy straw and hay from them for my horse and the bunnies the kids had.so paving slabs, some shavings and some straw should mean dry feet! Happy hens. I think I will get some corrugated plastic to screw on top of the pen then it won't get so wet. It has been worse than the winter. I got them in October.
Thanks for the help.

[Idontknowwhoiam]

I also have random paving slabs. Even though it's muddy in find it dries out quite quickly and theyve never been bothered by it.
Straw and shavings just get mushed in in no time do I've given up with that outside!

[Ditsy4]

Just started to dry out when we had a torrential storm yesterday. I'm thinking I might put some Perspex corragated sheeting on top.

[Ditsy4]

Well it has stayed dry today so far. I scraped and raked out the bottom of pens,very stinky, then put some shavings down with a concrete flag in two parts of pen. Left top off and poop tray to air. Put some shaving under the covered bit after I scraped a lot out. So should be happy hens tonight. Scratting about free range just now. So thanks for the advice. I'm going to get some clear ridge Perspex next week I think and screw it down so it will be less wet.