Mr Rhode Island Red Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 A rather muddy quagmire has developed outside the pop hole of my hen house. It never seems to dry up or harden at all, and is causing the hens, and their house to become dirty. It would be logical to just relocate the house, but with my set up is done, that is just virtually impossible. I was considering bark at first, but then I thought the hens would just scratch and scatter it all over the place. Then I considered largish pebbles...they can't really be kicked around by the hens and they won't just become saturated and soggy. What do you think? Mr RIR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 Gravel/pebbles are ok if the ground under them is very well drained otherwise they do smell These are very good, they also come in a smaller size http://www.diy.com/nav/decor/flooring/rugs-mats/mats/-specificproducttype-plain_mats/Interlocking-Rubber-Ringo-Mat-Black-L-90cm-x-W-90cm-9279205 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeloo Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 Perhaps a layer of sand would help with drainage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 I have the same problem. I used bark chippings but they disintegrated after about 2 weeks. It is really annoying! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mabelandflosmum Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 I have large pebbles in the garden and it's amazing how far my girls can kick them , I use bark chippings and haven't had any problems with water logging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 Is there room for a wooden pallet? I had a particularly muddy patch in the run, and covered it with a pallet, and it worked perfectly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 I have a Cube,& have put a large sawn off log just at the bottom of their ladder,which they hop on to before moving on to the ladder. Maybe something similar might help,if you have a Cube too,or a house which is raised up? If not,how about one of those rectangular plastic heavy duty door mats,which are sort of open weave & allow you to s"Ooops, word censored!"e the mud off of your shoes......that way the air will still get to the soil below & hopefully help it to recover,plus you can squish is right down into the patch so the hens dot move it about. I probably haven't described it very well Something like this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heth1986 Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 How big is the 'mud bath'?! Mine have their ramp resting onto an old tyre which is full of sand / diatom etc, they use it as their dust bath (which obviously spreads the sand a little further but that's only because i have it so full!) but they' don't seem to have a mud problem, despite my garden having rubbish drainage. It also has the added bonus of the quick wash before bed so they go to bed with a nice sprinkling of diatom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Rhode Island Red Posted March 11, 2012 Author Share Posted March 11, 2012 the patch is about 2 metres x 1 metre, the plastic doormats seem like a good idea, are they expensive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heth1986 Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000J6EW6I/ref=asc_df_B000J6EW6I6925276?smid=ALJLJNLDECWXK&tag=googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22218&creativeASIN=B000J6EW6I Sorry, very long link! But no, not expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bevmatt Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 If it becomes smelly in the muddy area you can use a disinfectant for the ground... We use POULTRY CARE- it is a dry powder disinfectant and kills bacteria like - E Coli, Salmonella ever Bird flu virus... we then cover over with bark chippings... to improve drainage we put a fork down into the wet area to break through the hard pan that develops and then wriggle the fork lots to create large holes and then try and fill with some sand or grit etc... Hope this helps. Bev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
