northybaby Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Hi guys, In preperation for the winter, we set up the run with a good layer of windchip underfoot so the hens would not be on mud all winter! but due to the awful weather and then being stuck in the run alot its just turned inot a smelly slimy waterlogged mess! what can i do? the whole garden is waterlogged and muddy. i thought the wodd chips would be a good idea! not so sure now. what are you all doing in these very wet conditions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Yes that is the problem for all of us I think. I have about two foot of wood chip and it has survived fairly well, but the previous lot was horrible, I think the only thing for it is to dig it up and relay some fresh. The joy of winter chicken keeping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Yes my run is a mess too.OH just collected more wood chip to put down at lunchtime.He usually rakes off sodden mess and puts it at base of beech hedge we planted a few years ago.In fact the whole garden is a soggy mess,roll on spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northybaby Posted January 30, 2014 Author Share Posted January 30, 2014 Sorry to hear we are all in the same boat, but i dont feel as guilty now! also, when the summer rolls around (if ever!) im looking to completly landscape the garden to be chicken friendly but also attractive. does anyone have any tips for a chicken friendly garden? or have some photos of thir own gardens? id love to get inspired! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 The only way to sort out your woodchip problem is to dig it all out sadly. I have permanent bases now and covered runs I use aubiose or similar. When I dug out the woodchip we distributed it all around the garden. How many chooks have you got? I think you need to plant heathers and hardy shrubs. There's no such thing as a nice garden with chickens free ranging. Unless you have an orchard ( dream ). They love to dig and eat your grass, and your pot plants ! . Others will have better ideas than me. I do not have green fingers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Agree chickadee don't think nice garden and free ranging chickens go in same sentence.I must dammit to letting mine out lots now in the winter when the rain washes the poo away and there are no flowers to pick.I like window boxes and so it seems do the chickens I keep a close eye on them in summer and try to steer them away from flowers and veg patch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Did your device do your spelling grandmashazzie. Took me a while to understand why you were saying I must dammit ! I have exactly the same problem. I have an iphone and all my friends enjoy getting my texts, as I don't check what the phone has changed without me noticing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 After 5 years, I gave in and my chickens now have their own area of the garden - so we can have the rest! Unless all you have is a very small number of bantams, ( no more than 3, and they need to be the smallest of the small!!!) I don't think it's possible to share a garden with chickens. As for the mud, we're all in the same boat - quite literally I fear at times! Look on the bright side. I don't think we'll be having a hose pipe ban this summer.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 This is the worst I've ever known it - I've had to put a pallet down in my WIR, as it's so wet that there was nowhere dry for the hens to stand, although they have perches and a table. I managed to get home early yesterday (i.e. before dark) and had a quick clear-out of the gutter as I think that's been overflowing. Nothing I can do till the weather dries up, but anyone in their first winter of chicken-keeping shouldn't despair, as it's not usually as bad as this. If you let hens free range in this weather they will do significant amounts of damage. I keep my garden and my hens by only allowing limited free-ranging time, it's limited severely by my working hours anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I have a section of my garden sectioned off as a 35sq foot enclosure, where they have, perches, a few logs to perch and jump on, a swing made with roosting bars, and a tyre upturned and half buried. Lots of potted grasses as they leave those alone and a big lavender which they do peck at occasionally but has survived....and a good old dust bath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisyisarobot Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 In the same boat! I just cleaned them out& it's basically a bog out there now. I dug out the woodchips from before Christmas & replaced with new and they are already mud ridden. I'm giving up now! The whole garden is water logged. This is my first winter with chickens & sadly, it's put me off getting more once our current flock pass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 I thought my run was bad on Thursday ... today I think 7/8ths of it is soaking wet, with huge puddles, sucking mud and standing water. There's nothing I can do, I've put an extra pallet in but there is no amount of woodchip, straw or anything else that's going to solve it at the moment. Please don't be put off - these are abnormal conditions and I've never had this before. I might look at building more drainage into the run in the summer but they're just going to have to cross their wings and pray for a dry spell! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Watch out for mud balls on their toes, my silkie had a couple last year. Luckily they weren't too big so I could carefully pick them off. They can be very painful for them though. I read that if you put a layer of straw in front of the pop hole, it helps clean their feet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 If they do get mud balls, I have found that standing them in a bucket of lukewarm water softens them and you can get then off. The major challenge is persuading them to stand still for the 10 mins or so it takes! Wear waterproof clothes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 I've surrendered most of my flowerbeds to my little darlings! They have a few waxy leafed shrubs and 2 large trees plus an old garden bench. It's not as pretty as a flower-filled bed but I'd rather see them pottering about anyway and keep flowers in planters on the patio . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKMARCH Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 I agree this year has been the worst and with all the wind the rain seems to find a way of getting in, I miss all the frosts we seem to have only had a couple so far this winter its a good job I didn't get a heater for the drinker base which I was contemplating after last year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Its awful isn't it, think I prefer the cold now, although moaned about it last year! I've just redone my run and even though its well covered with tarps there are still places where the water is blowing or dripping in, only consolation is as its new wood chip its clean so hopefully will dry out when we finally get some sun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 Our cube and run seems to have a moat now. The girls don't bother much with the greenhouse lately, choosing to stay either on the wall under the "club house" weeping cotoneaster or in their run. The grass isn't looking too good because the oak tree took it's toll on it. But the old wooden roosting bars seem to have come into use now as the girls like sitting on them - the sun is warmer through the plastic (when it does come out) and they enjoy the warmth and shelter. Luckily the run is dry and I have no idea how that has remained so. Quite relieved I am about that too! Luckily no mud balls on the pekin tootsies - I think it's the paddling before wiping her feet on the aubiose has helped! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylil Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Has anyone checked out the mud management section on Newlandgrange.com? I have an uncovered WIR and am thinking I'm going to have to cover it in order to combat the mud, it is literally like the battle of the Somme out there at the mo Thinking of putting down the turf protector layer then a layer of Auboise so I can poo pick and keep on top go it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Has anyone checked out the mud management section on Newlandgrange.com? Hi Mrs B on here is a big fan of their system and has it for her runs....you could PM her? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylil Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Thanks mimi5, perhaps she'll see the post. Laying the turf protector does sound like a really good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doris Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 It's my first winter with chickens and I was doing so well until this awful weather and now it's all gone to pot. Despite the run being covered by a clear tarp and lined with tarp water is now getting in somehow. Until about Christmas time it was lovely and dry in there but now the aubiose is soaking. It needs changing again but Saturday will be the first chance I get to do it (weather permitting) and I feel so guilty for my ladies. We are hoping to move this summer and I'm planning a WIR for them - I'm already wondering what I can do better next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylil Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 Don't feel guilty Doris, you're doing your best think the weather is getting to most of us! Might be a good idea for you to check out WIR posts to see what other peoples are like - good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
