[Yorkie]

Friend has got an eglu plus run.

The run is muddy.

What would you suggest could be put down as a base?  Wood chippings? 

[aggers]

I would suggest getting the run covered,as whatever you put down it will end up a mess,you could put in a  few rolls of turf which the hens will enjoy,and once spent simply replace.Hope this helps.

[Yorkie]

Thanks for the suggestion.  Turf and covering aren't really an option.

Is there not a base layer which can be put down?

[Lewjam]

soft wood chippings (Not bark chippings due to mould) work well in the short term.

But note that without a cover, the cooks will soon scratch them about and dig them into the mud.  So you will end up with just a rougher texture of mud!

Lew

[JaK]

I use miscanthus in my run and also anywhere that gets muddy in the garden. It's cheap to buy (£6 something a bale) and will break down over time so can be composted and replaced.

[Yorkie]

Thanks all 

[Aunt Sally]

When I had an eglu with an "attached" run I put down some woven wee suppressant fabric  - pinned down at the edges - and covered it with 4 inches of bark chips. 

The fabric lasted  for years.  The hens scratched about in the bark and I just had to rake it out and replace some of it every couple of weeks.

[Yorkie]

That sounds like a manageable plan, thanks Aunt Sally.

[Aunt Sally]

This is a picture of it Yorkie.

The fabric goes under the wire skirt of the run and the skirt is pinned down with metal tent pegs or you can make them out of strong wire e.g. wire coat hangers.

[Yorkie]

Excellent, thanks very much!