[joolz68]

It seems non stop rain recently,i sympathise with owners who seriously more problems than me at the moment due to the weather x
Would it be a good idea to buy 3 ton of  washed sharp sand to cover over the mud in my run?(aprox 18x18ft) not only do the hens look a mess but im slipping in it getting to the coop
Thanks julie x 

[MartF]

We use leaves, lots of them, the run is currently about 12 inches deep in leaves and they love scratching about in it. We have also erected one of those fairly cheap 3 mtr square gazebos, the sort of thing you get from B&Q, it covers about two thirds of the run and is so well tied down it withstood all the gales we have recently had.

As the leaves were falling we put the word out and neighbours were bagging their leaves and leaving them on our drive. We have bags in the shed, the garage, one end of the run, we have enough to easily last us through the winter, lol.

[splash101]

the trouble with sand (i've used it in the past) is that it gets compacted and it doesnt give any better drainage, also it absolutely stinks when mixed with the mud and poop. It didnt seem to dry out so really stank.

Im not really sure what the answer is. Could you slab some of it? if not now perhaps think about it for next year. Check freecycle regularly for free slabs.

I've got mine partly slabbed and the rest of it i use a deep layer of easibed on top of the soil. It drys out nicely (once it stops raining) and  they can still dig around in it.

[joolz68]

the trouble with sand (i've used it in the past) is that it gets compacted and it doesnt give any better drainage, also it absolutely stinks when mixed with the mud and poop. It didnt seem to dry out so really stank.

Im not really sure what the answer is. Could you slab some of it? if not now perhaps think about it for next year. Check freecycle regularly for free slabs.

I've got mine partly slabbed and the rest of it i use a deep layer of easibed on top of the soil. It drys out nicely (once it stops raining) and  they can still dig around in it.

Thank you both,i will try to get some roof coverage this yr,they do go under and in the coop when the weathers really bad and i am def going to pave some of it when it drys out and i can level it..its like the big dipper at the moment where theyve dug dirt baths so with all the mud its a slip hazard for me  x
So splash i have gone for your advise for easibed and they stopped moaning at me instantly


I will go and get some more bales this afternoon  xx