[Dominic]

I'm fairly sure we're nearing the garlic planting stage, I have a bed, cleared by the chickens, thats currently looking like the Somme.
They fertilised it mightily, and I intend to rotovate it to create a realtivly level bed, and plant away.
Am I best to give it a few weeks after the chickens are moved on as a sort of rest period?  And does garlic need to be kept fairly dry?  Lack of grass cover means its a swamp at the moment (another reason to move the chickens)  If so, will digging a trench around it accomplish that?
--u--
Sort of like that?

[bigben]

I think garlic is sometimes grown commercially in slightly raised lines. This helps the drainage. I have never done this but if you have drainage problems you might consider it or even produce a raised bed by digging in some extra stuff like sharp sand or grit to improve drainage. The idea of digging a trench should also help.

[mumofstig]

Yes, planting it on a ridge is best if the ground is wet 

[compostqueen]

I grew some really good garlic when I first got my plot as I planted them where the clearing bonfire had been. It was the only clear patch of ground I had.  I think they appreciated the gritty nature of the soil. Adding some grit or gritsand would help, even leaf mould if you have it

[JohnB47]

compostqueen - it also could have been the potassium (potash) transferred to the soil from the bonfire ash.

[Trillium]

Good idea on the trench. Garlic likes some regular moisture but nothing swampy.

And yes, do let the planting area rest a while as fresh chicken manure is quite potent and the garlic will struggle against it if planted too soon. I'd plant late December in your patch.

Some will say that there's older manure there so not to worry, but the fresh stuff is way more potent and overpowering, so do let the area rest a bit. Been there, done that.