[demonfarmer2630]

My chicken run has been cleared of plants by my hens and as such has become water logged i need a tree/plant/bush that is really thirsty can anyone recamend anything to help that will help absorb water and fast

[Clansman]

I think better drainage would be the answer rather than finding plants to absorb the water.

Does the run sit in low lying area? can you raise it, or create a drainage channel?

[doganjo]

Agree that drainage is the answer if possible, but failing that I use rubber door mats for them to walk on in the run and I have also put in a couple of huge branches for them to perch on to get out of the mud.  I've also hung up their feed container a foot off the ground and you could put a concrete slab under that.

[Backinwellies]

They would probably eat any plant you put in there so try other ideas to reduce mud ( though if it doesn't stop  there is very little that can be done!

[twizzel]

I've made a temporary pen out of sheep netting that they can walk through into to dry off a bit. My pen is also under 2 inches of mud and a nightmare. I've put a pecking block up which they seem to like, and hanging veg is helping. I'm going to reseed the whole area in the spring 

[hughesy]

Throw some old pallets in there at least they will be able to stand out of the mud.

[Greenerlife]

  I have put down loads of straw and I also have a horses rubber mat, but old pallets are a great idea and I have a few!  Thanks Hughesy!  Seems all chicken keepers have the same problems.

[Marches Farmer]

As an emergency measure coarse straw (not feed quality) will allow the water to drain through better than bark chippings, but the first couple of inches will sink into the mud, so you'll need much more than you'd think.  All our poultry are under cover at present - in old pig pens, a cattle yard, pole barns ....  I'd much rather they could free range but it's chucking it down again right now and the ground is so saturated the grass is rotting in standing water on our flatter fields.

[HesterF]

Maybe bigger runs needed for the future too....or more free ranging.

[demonfarmer2630]

So far I jhave covered the run in a wood based cat litter it has helped to a point but its still mud city I have dug down and its an odd mix of sand stone and rubble under a foot of mud and clay and I know dranege would help but I damaged my back a while ago and can't do the work or afford to pay someone to do it so plants are the next option the land is on high ground but no dranege so stuck on what to do plus I need to expand the run in a few months and I'm dressing it

[demonfarmer2630]

Also they have pallets and planks branches but the just sit in the mud and its a pain to bath wet chickens lol
Also have 3 pekin males for free homing

[suziequeue]

We've just moved the run. The shed stays in the same place but the electric fence gets moved around so that the shed is alternatively in the top corner and then the bottom corner of the enclosure.


We also free range them all day so the worst bits are actually due to us going in and out - not the chickens.  We are going to build a network of small paths to the feed areas and egg boxes etc so that we don't poach the ground.

[HesterF]

Demonfarmer, it sounds like you're looking for a short term solution and plants are definitely not that. Nothing will be actively growing at the moment so nothing will be sucking up the water (which is part of the problem). Something like willow is quick growing and thirsty but it wouldn't kick off until the spring/summer and it's never going to be thirsty enough to keep your whole run dry. Can you find a temporary home for your birds somewhere else or indoors or something?

[chrismahon]

Chickens will dig up anything you plant. They are attracted to loose soil. As said, better drainage is the only solution. Chicken poo blocks the soil up and it doesn't drain so ideally they need a slight slope on the run. Alternatively you can dig it over and add plenty of material to give the soil porosity.

[demonfarmer2630]

We also free range them all day so the worst bits are actually due to us going in and out - not the chickens.  We are going to build a network of small paths to the feed areas and egg boxes etc so that we don't poach the ground.

I think that this has hit the nail on the head Thanks guys this has been really useful and I will be building a path asap