[Derek.laurence]

I am looking for inspiration!

My chicken coop is in a barn with a hatch for my 5 Hens to get to their outside run.

The outside run is approx 15m * 1.5m and is essentially just a scrap of land that has no other use behind the barn.

With all the recent wet weather it has become a complete mud pit.  It is on a slight slope as well so quite treacherous to walk down should i need to.

I am trying to think of some ingenious way to create something to walk on, or stepping stones without taking away the rough ground for the hens to scratch around in; yet at the same time save me falling on my backside and getting caked every time i venture out!

Any ideas or inspiration are most welcome!

[Sparkyrog]

Bark mulch 

[Derek.laurence]

i had three quarters of a bag of bark sitting and at one point put this down but after a week it barely made a difference, hence wasn't prepared to fork out to bark the whole 22.5 square metres. 
i suppose if i were to carpet the whole area with bark it wouldnt get mixed in as much.....worth a try i suppose.

Thanks sparkyrog

[snow white]

Pallets.

Saw them so that you get two bits of platform.  If you imagine that a pallet has four bits of 2 x4 onto which the thin wood is nailed.  This gives three sections.  Saw the middle section out which leaves you with two sturdy sections about 150cm in total long.  So 10 pallets would give you a long enough raised path.  Pallets are generally free and should last quite a while.

 

[Derek.laurence]

thanks snow white,
i had considered a pallet walkway (Pinterest seems inundated with pallet ideas) but hdnt wanted to deprive the poor little chickadoos of scratching ground.

Another good idea though, thanks

[JaK]

Miscanthus is really good too and should help to bind the mud.

[ANHBUC]

Wood is a nightmare when wet or icy.  It isn't dignified when you do the splits and then end up with bumps and bruises.   

[snow white]

quote author=ANHBUC link=topic=103167.msg1155039#msg1155039 date=1363279793]
Wood is a nightmare when wet or icy.  It isn't dignified when you do the splits and then end up with bumps and bruises.   
[/quote]

  the image of that cheered me up no end.  Not wishing it on anybody mind you. 

[Sparkyrog]

Wood is a nightmare when wet or icy.  It isn't dignified when you do the splits and then end up with bumps and bruises.   

ROFL Sorry Anhbuc but it brings to mind a chicken sat on her butt with her feet out in front of her 

[ANHBUC]

Not a good look when you are in your pj's and dressing gown.     I was only glad I didn't land on one of my hens.   

[Elvira]

So it's not just me that sneaks out in their pjs first thing to let the chickens out! I once bumped into a neighbour letting her dog out - fortunately she was also in her nightie! 

[ANHBUC]

Certainly isn't just you, there was a thread on here before asking what people wore when letting their hens out on a morning.