Page 2 | Stinky, horrible, waterlogged chicken run - advice / opinions please

LimitIsUp · 2023-01-13T15:44:59+00:00

I feel rather worried for my three chickens - the run is in a horrible post heavy rain state. I bought some wood chippings for the run in the autumn - several large bags but most have just been swallowed by the mud. I probably could buy loads ++ so that coverage is several inches deep everywhere, but that would cost £££s with no guarantee of success. Was thinking - temporary solution to order several pallets. I found the one pictured below propped up against the fence in my small paddock. Pallets are relatively cheap but an additional £60 for delivery Longer term was pondering providing concrete hard standing for the chicken run (and overlaying with straw on top) - but might need planning permission as the land is classed as agricultural / paddock? Or perhaps digging down and removing soil to a depth of a few inches, and then infilling with shingle / gravel and then covering with wood chippings. Anyone with similar issues? What have you done?

HighlandCowbag · 13/01/2023 17:12

Try and find a local tree surgeon, they are usually happy to drop chippings off for free or fuel money. And combination of pallets, a few paving slabs and even a few logs helps them get out of the wet.

We have a large run and shed setup on the allotment. They also love the old kids plastic playhouse they have in there. They use it for shade in the summer and shelter in the rain and cos its usually dry for dust baths.

Richtea67 · 13/01/2023 17:17

Haven't read all the posts OP but it has to be hardwood chips, not ordinary wood chips as they will mulch down into the mud. You could contact local landscapers to see if they have any hardwood chippings going. They were pricey but did last us ages. We used to hose them down when they were soiled and use a sanitising powder...good luck!

mollynolly · 13/01/2023 17:21

This is one of the reasons we gave up the hen keeping in the end, having them locked down in a run all the time meant we were constantly having to clean up the run, as it was filthy within two days of cleaning and adding new wood chips. It just didn't feel like a nice place for a hen to live, and it certainly wasn't anything like what we had pre-flockdown where they just buggered about in the garden all day and put themselves to bed at night.

I think current restrictions make it quite difficult to have a happy backyard flock, unless you have plentiful resources.

WhatIsGinLiqueurAnyway · 13/01/2023 17:23

I'm not a chicken keeper, but I often need woodchip. I've found tree surgeons are often keen to get rid of woodchip as they have to pay to dump it. You'll need somewhere like a drive where they can tip it. Call a few in your area and you may get lucky. We get it for free.

Original poster

LimitIsUp · 13/01/2023 17:28

Good shout re tree surgeons

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Cathpot · 13/01/2023 17:33

We use an old wheelie bin , lying on its side with a long hole cut out for access- as a very dry dust bath. There is a taup over the run at the moment so the ground is much drier anyway but they do like the wheelie bin as shelter in really rubbish weather. Also they make good use of perching right up to the ceiling and it increases the useable area in the run while they are in lock down.

Any thoughts on when we might be allowed to let them free range again? I can’t remember what month it lifted last time.

ConfusedNT · 13/01/2023 17:38

Cathpot · 13/01/2023 17:33

We use an old wheelie bin , lying on its side with a long hole cut out for access- as a very dry dust bath. There is a taup over the run at the moment so the ground is much drier anyway but they do like the wheelie bin as shelter in really rubbish weather. Also they make good use of perching right up to the ceiling and it increases the useable area in the run while they are in lock down.

Any thoughts on when we might be allowed to let them free range again? I can’t remember what month it lifted last time.

2nd of May last year I think

FictionalCharacter · 13/01/2023 17:38

mollynolly · 13/01/2023 17:21

This is one of the reasons we gave up the hen keeping in the end, having them locked down in a run all the time meant we were constantly having to clean up the run, as it was filthy within two days of cleaning and adding new wood chips. It just didn't feel like a nice place for a hen to live, and it certainly wasn't anything like what we had pre-flockdown where they just buggered about in the garden all day and put themselves to bed at night.

I think current restrictions make it quite difficult to have a happy backyard flock, unless you have plentiful resources.

My run doesn’t get dirty. I poo pick every couple of days, replace the hardwood chip once a year or less. The horse matting keeps the woodchip away from the mud, the clear plastic roof keeps the water out.

Our run is made from 1cm welded mesh with an anti-dig skirt, so together with the roof it’s biosecure. The Omlet runs are not biosecure, not rainproof, not big enough and too expensive IMO.

Cathpot · 13/01/2023 18:47

Dear god- May?? I had early spring in my head for some reason. Possible because it has a month beginning with M. Will not be getting any more chickens after this.

ConfusedNT · 13/01/2023 19:21

Cathpot · 13/01/2023 18:47

Dear god- May?? I had early spring in my head for some reason. Possible because it has a month beginning with M. Will not be getting any more chickens after this.

Yes, although it was particularly late last year. I only remember because I gave in and replaced our old battered run with a new one on the 30th of April because it seemed like they were going to be in forever. Then I saw the announcement 🙄

mollynolly · 13/01/2023 19:48

Cathpot · 13/01/2023 18:47

Dear god- May?? I had early spring in my head for some reason. Possible because it has a month beginning with M. Will not be getting any more chickens after this.

Depressing isn't it? We made that call last year.

Bimblesalong · 13/01/2023 20:11

I have the same run. I went from large tarp/ shower curtains bungeed over the top to getting some clear corrugated sheets of plastic which poke a bit over the front as a front sil. They also have shelter to side and back. If it was an exposed area I would put a barrier/ tarp on one side and back under the housing at least.

The soil under my eglu is now mostly dry, and the girls love to dust bathe under their housing area.

you could poke a couple of sticks/ batons through the sides so that they have an outdoor perch (don’t obstruct the ladder), but they’ll be much happier if you have something to stop the wind blowing through.

you’ll be aware not to put stuff all the way round as they will need some decent air to stop the ground getting all fungal!

Original poster

LimitIsUp · 14/01/2023 10:25

Thanks - that's good advice.

I will be sure to post new photos when they have the run they deserve

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SOWK · 14/01/2023 10:27

We put cheap paving stones down in our run, covered in wood chip. The wood chip still degrades but it lasts for a lot longer.
we also put in a large tyre filled with a mix of soil and sand for dust bathing, which they loved.

SirVixofVixHall · 14/01/2023 10:29

PortiasBiscuit · 13/01/2023 15:46

I think you need to move the poor things to a drier area of the garden. They’ll get trench foot.

I agree. My run used to get very muddy and I would move it across to a new area. You need to move it and also get a rain cover, bird flu regs require one anyway, and it will keep your run drier.
I have moved my hens to a permanent run now, with sleepers around the edge and six inches of hardwood chips. It needs digging out and replacing every now and again, but doesn’t ever get sodden.

Original poster

LimitIsUp · 14/01/2023 15:44

Its a fixed run @SirVixofVixHall - look at the size of it.

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LimitIsUp · 14/01/2023 15:45

Sleepers around the edges is a good idea to prevent wood chippings from being kicked out

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LimitIsUp · 14/01/2023 15:45

Large tyre would be good @SOWK

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steppemum · 14/01/2023 16:00

we have a similar problem OP.
Our run is covered in plastic and has a roof at each end, so there are always dry bits, but the centre part is just so muddy. The floor is covered in wood chip, but the last 2 weeks it has just turned to mud. They have lots of perches (old chairs with seats removed make good perches, with different heights) but my 3 little feathered feet bantams are looking particularly bad, and tomorrow I am going to have to bring them in a do a foot check and remove mud. The mud dries on their feathers.

I can't move it, it is built in with mesh under the ground and a mesh skirt as we have terrible issues with foxes. But pre covid they free ranged round a corner of the garden during the day.

I actually had to start keeping them in pre flockdown as one of my bloody neighbours decided to start feeding the foxes. Once she did that, the field behind our house became meeting ground for 100 foxes, all waiting for her to give them dinner. We lost our whole flock twice. Including one old girl who we had since we first started 8 years ago.

I nearly didn't restock, but then someone was rehoming.... so we got our current flock, and reinforced everything and decided to keep them in unless we were actually out in the garden with them in the summer.

SirVixofVixHall · 14/01/2023 16:12

LimitIsUp · 14/01/2023 15:44

Its a fixed run @SirVixofVixHall - look at the size of it.

Blimey ! That is quite rude, I am only trying to help as I had the same problem.
I can see it is an Eglu run, you could dismantle it and move it over to the other side, then re seed the mud area.
I had OBVIOUSLY looked at the picture before commenting.

SOWK · 14/01/2023 16:13

GARDENA Lawn Edging 15 cm high: Ideal Lawn Boundary, Even for beds, 9 m, Prevents Root Propagation, Plastic, Brown (532-20) amzn.eu/d/32ZLloM

we used something similar to this to stop them kicking the wood chip out - we used cable ties to attach it around the bottom of the run.

Original poster

LimitIsUp · 14/01/2023 16:14

You must have felt murderous towards your neighbour! A fox night club next to your chickens must have been a mare

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LimitIsUp · 14/01/2023 16:14

Brilliant @SOWK - thank you

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LimitIsUp · 14/01/2023 16:18

I am sorry if that came across as rude, that wasn't my intention.

The large run is a bugger to dismantle and then reassemble - (several hours) and it wouldn't be worth the effort when the new site would become waterlogged within the week. I think the answer is to improve the current site and there have been some great suggestions on this thread which I plan to implement. Feeling optimistic I can turn things around

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DadANDPK · 14/01/2023 16:34

LimitIsUp · 14/01/2023 16:18

I am sorry if that came across as rude, that wasn't my intention.

The large run is a bugger to dismantle and then reassemble - (several hours) and it wouldn't be worth the effort when the new site would become waterlogged within the week. I think the answer is to improve the current site and there have been some great suggestions on this thread which I plan to implement. Feeling optimistic I can turn things around

I get that it's a big job to move the run, but wouldn't it actually be easier to prepare the other area that's not in a state, then move the run that try to recover the area they're in.
our local farm shop/cafe had a lovely chicken area, for years! Then a fox got in and killed a few, they stupidly didn't learn from it & the/a fox went in & killed more of them. Then they got rid of the chickens & run. It's a shame as it was lovely to go and visit them, but we weren't the ones mucking them out etc.