Advice on Maintenance of a Chicken Run?

[CharlesdeGaulle]

The wet weather has made a real mess of the chicken run, and the scratching and constantly wet soil has turned it into a bit of a mud bath.

I'm reluctant to put down bark chippings because I like to be able to rake out fallen leaves and poo, but I know that the girls shouldn't have to stand in mud. The whole area is quite large, so it's not all sodden, and I move the food around so they're not always drawn to the same spot, but it seems to be a constant battle. Any tips or ideas?

[S6 Devil]

I use sharp sand. It should help with drainage and you will be able to remove poo and leaves.

You could also try a porous membrane such as the black stuff sold in garden centres, that water can drain through.

This site is very useful: http://forums.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk/viewforum.php...

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Thanks S6. I've been keeping hens for more than a year, and never once seen that site until now.