Coops & runs
Chicken run flooring and mud control (UK): keep it dry without losing your mind
Mud is the UK chicken keeper’s default enemy. The fix is not “pray for summer”. It’s roof, drainage, and a flooring plan that can take daily scratching.
Hard truth: grass rarely survives in a run. Plan for a “sacrificial surface” from day one.
Roof & drainage
Flooring options
Winter plan
Cleaner eggs
Why runs turn to mud
- high foot traffic in a small area
- rain + poor drainage
- no roof (water in) + no dry zone
What mud causes
- dirty eggs and messy feet
- smell and flies
- bored hens → pecking
- higher parasite pressure
Your three levers
- More space (see run sizing)
- Keep water out (roof, gutters)
- Give water somewhere to go (drainage + surface)
The “roof a zone” strategy (best ROI)
If you can only do one improvement, do this.
- roof at least part of the run (even a lean-to)
- create a dry “core” where hens can dust bathe and hang out
- use that dry zone for feeders/waterers
Result: less mud, less waste, calmer birds.
Need build ideas? Start with our run designs.
Flooring options (realistic pros/cons)
There’s no perfect surface. Choose the trade-offs you can live with.
| Surface | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Woodchip / arborist chip | soaks up moisture, easy top-up, cheap in bulk | needs refreshing, can hide droppings (you still maintain) |
| Sand | drains well, can be raked | can become heavy/wet if drainage is poor |
| Slabs + drainage gaps | easy to scrape, reduces digging under edges | harder on feet if not managed, still needs dry litter zones |
| Gravel base + top layer | improves drainage | can be uncomfortable without a soft top layer |
Don’t do this: leave bare soil and hope it stays “fine”. It won’t.
Drainage and siting: the hidden mud cause
Even perfect flooring fails in the wrong spot.
- avoid the lowest point of the garden
- avoid under roof drip-lines without gutters
- give water a path away (slight fall + drainage channel)
- consider moving the run seasonally if you can
Full siting guide: where to put your coop/run.
Truth: the “perfect” run surface is the one you can maintain weekly without resenting your hens.