Cleaning chicken run

My hens have a very big grass run, well mostly not grass now 
With the warm weather it is beginning to smell a bit.  How do you clean a very big grass run?
They sometimes free range in the garden (when my dogs are behind closed gates on the terrace, or indoors).

Thanks

Valerie

Thanks for that Rob.  I can fence the run into two sections, no problem, but digging it over won't be an easy task!!!!  and if I got a rotivator that would turn the run into a quagmire if
we got a spate of rain.  Any suggestions?
When you say fork it over, is rake it over the same?  Sorry if I sound dumb but I've never
had hens in a run before. 
The deep bedding of shavings in the hen house doesn't smell at all.  I've just kept adding
shavings, and when we get a few good dry days I'll empty and burn it all and renew with more deep shavings.

Valerie

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I would think raking would be fine. As long as you can get a good handfull of lime into each square meter so the pH rises it's going to improve. Our run is covered and tends to get 'crusty' so we fork it over now and then to get air into the soil. Also helps them to find worms too !

But that's the reason for the smell and it will only get worse. It's something you might need to do to a smaller section in rotation to keep it fresh. Bit like the Forth bridge 

Good luck

Rob
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I've just been to Phillips Agricultural merchants and they've never heard of it.  Where would I buy garden lime, from a garden centre?   

Valerie

Yup 

Got mine from B&Q. 

Rob

Well thanks again Rob    That's where I'll be going tomorrow to get some.

xx

Valerie