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If you’re a chicken keeper, you know that maintaining a clean and dry chicken run can be a challenge, especially during the rainy season. Wet and muddy conditions not only create an unsanitary environment for your chickens, but can also lead to health problems such as foot and leg issues. Fortunately, there are several easy and inexpensive solutions that can help keep your chicken run mud-free.
My go to is wood chips, and I am thankful I was proactive with laying them out early this year because it’s been unseasonably warm, leading to mud before spring even officially rolls around.
Here are some more ideas to avoid a muddy chicken run, especially if you are looking to source wood chips or other materials on the cheap.
Clean Your Run
First and foremost, keep your chicken run clean. Regularly removing droppings and debris will help prevent mud buildup. If your chickens have access to a larger area outside of their run, consider rotating their space to give the ground time to dry out and recover.
The material you clean out from your run can be reused to create compost. Find a sunny, out of the way location and start piling it up to let it cook and decompose. When you compost, you need a mix of “green” and “brown” organic matter. Chicken poop is considered green because of it’s high nitrogen content. (Other green material includes grass clippings, coffee grounds, and fruit and veggie scraps.) So if your pile is heavy in chicken waste, be sure to mix in plenty of drier, brown matter periodically, such as dead leaves and grasses, hay, straw, pine shavings, sawdust, and even cardboard.
Cover Part of the Run
Another option is to cover part of the run with a roof or tarp to create a dry area for your chickens. This is particularly useful if your run is located in a low-lying area or receives a lot of rain.
As a bonus, this offers your chickens protection against air-borne predators such as hawks and owls, provides much needed shade during the summer months, keeps your chickens dry in the rain and snow while still allowing them to be outside, and gives them a secure place to dust bath (mine love doing this in their little protected corner).
Plant Some Ground Cover
Planting grass, clover, or other ground cover can also help reduce mud buildup in your chicken run. These plants will absorb moisture and stabilize the soil, making it less likely to turn into mud.
Additionally this offers forage material for your chickens, supports pollinators (if you go with a flowering plant like clover), and improves overall soil quality.
Opt for Wood Chips Over Straw or Hay
While straw and hay can provide a soft surface for your chickens to walk on, they can also trap moisture (why I don’t love these as chicken coop bedding either) and create mud.
Wood chips are a better option because they provide good drainage and can absorb moisture without turning into mud. There are a few ways you can source inexpensive or free wood chips. Let’s look at those now.
Check Out Chip Drop
If you’re looking for a cheap or even free source of wood chips, check out Chip Drop. This online service connects you with arborists in your area who have wood chips or even whole trees (free firewood guys!) to give away. The only downside is that it can take some time to receive a drop, but if you’re willing to offer a small incentive, like $20, you may be able to get a faster response.
Go to Your Local Recycling Center
Another option is to check with your local recycling center. They may have wood chips available for a low cost or even for free if you’re willing to haul them away.
My husband and I used to get it at our local recycling center with our truck, and it was very cheap. We no longer have the truck unfortunately, so we mostly just use Chip Drop now, but it’s a great option if you do. I cannot remember the exact cost, but it was something like $10-20 for a truckload. (Plus they also had FREE compost!)
Explore Other Free/Community Resources Online
You can also put out a request for wood chips or other materials on social media platforms like Facebook Marketplace or NextDoor. Many people are eager to get rid of excess wood chips, straw, leaves, or other materials, and may be happy to let you take them off their hands for free.
Get It By the Truckload
If you do decide to purchase wood chips or mulch, buying in bulk can save you money (not to mention time). Consider purchasing a truckload, and if you have extra material you can always use it in your garden or save it for the next rainy season.
What If My Chickens Still Get Muddy?
Even with these preventative measures in place, your chickens may still get muddy from time to time. In this case, providing a dry area for them to retreat to, like a covered coop (you should have this anyway but it bears saying), can help keep them clean and dry. You can also consider adding a layer of sand or gravel to high traffic areas to help absorb moisture and prevent mud buildup.
Make sure they have a place to dry place to take dust baths as mentioned earlier. This will help them loosen off any stuck on mud. Pay special attention to chicken breeds with feathered feet. They are most prone to caked on mud and excrement, which can make them vulnerable infection of their feet or legs. If you feel it’s warranted, you give your chickens feet a gentle bath with epsom salts or Castile soap.
Keeping your chicken run mud-free may require some effort, but it’s essential for the health and well-being of your chickens. With these simple and cost-effective solutions, you can ensure that your chickens have a clean and dry place to enjoy the outdoors.
