Best coop floor material in wet North Carolina?

[QChickieMama]

I built a 10x10 great coop for my birds that's safe and has a metal roof. Only thing is I didn't make a huge overhang.

Now that we're having a good bit of rain, the dirt floor in there is pools of nasty and muck. I can muck it out but then the ground level of the coop will be lower and lower which makes the problem worse.

My latest idea is to put bricks in by hand. I happen to have a bunch of unused bricks lying nearby.

If that's a bad idea, what should I use?

 

[FeatherstoneFrm]

I would put in a thick layer of pine shavings. It obsorbs the water, they like to dig in it, and you can rake it back out level periodically which also rakes the poop under, reducing flies and odor.

 

[Whitepinefarm]

I built a 10x10 great coop for my birds that's safe and has a metal roof. Only thing is I didn't make a huge overhang.

Now that we're having a good bit of rain, the dirt floor in there is pools of nasty and muck. I can muck it out but then the ground level of the coop will be lower and lower which makes the problem worse.

My latest idea is to put bricks in by hand. I happen to have a bunch of unused bricks lying nearby.

If that's a bad idea, what should I use?

Perhaps you can use sand. I am just finishing a 10x12 run and am intending to use sand as the run cover after much research. If it gets wet it dries quickly, allows the chicks to dust bathe in it, helps keep their nails trimmed, is very easy to clean and negates the need for grit. It is important to use construction sand as play sand is too fine and dusty.

 

[QChickieMama]

I would put in a thick layer of pine shavings. It obsorbs the water, they like to dig in it, and you can rake it back out level periodically which also rakes the poop under, reducing flies and odor.

Two months ago, I cleaned out the whole pen and put in pine shavings. There's no sign of them now. Just deep muck.

The coop is just wire mesh on all sides for fresh air--and rain.

 

[Johnny98]

I use pine needles in my run to keep my chickens out of the mud, lots and lots of pine needles.
No reason at all not to use them in a coop, widely available here in NC via CL for cheap if you don't have a source on your property.

The chickens absolutely love em'.

 

[True Patriot]

If it's wet adding anything organic will stay wet. Either A) raise the floor level above the level of the water with a mineral base. (sand, gravel, etc) or B) install a drainage system to remove the water. A 6"x6" trench filled with gravel and covered with landscape cloth. Slope to the downhill side and extend at least 10' past the coop. After the water issue is resolved you can line the coop with the material of your choice.

 

[Western North Carolina]

I hear ya. It has been raining NON-STOP all spring and summer! Sheesh! My chicks are still babies, but will be preparing coops soon and thinking about that same issue. Let me know if you find a solution that hasn't been mentioned here.

 

[Whitepinefarm]

If it's wet adding anything organic will stay wet. Either A) raise the floor level above the level of the water with a mineral base. (sand, gravel, etc) or B) install a drainage system to remove the water. A 6"x6" trench filled with gravel and covered with landscape cloth. Slope to the downhill side and extend at least 10' past the coop. After the water issue is resolved you can line the coop with the material of your choice.

I am just finishing my run ( 10x10 ) and lining it with sand. What is the preferred depth of sand in a run?

 

[True Patriot]

I am just finishing my run ( 10x10 ) and lining it with sand. What is the preferred depth of sand in a run?

If you're using the sand for drainage and covering with another material depth should be 2" minimum. If it's going to be an all sand run. I would go at least 5" since the chickens will be scratching directly into it.

ETA: personally I use DL. Sand is good but needs periodically cleaning/maintenance. I also use the compost from the DL for garden so in my case it made the perfect choice.

 

[aart]

If it's wet adding anything organic will stay wet. Either A) raise the floor level above the level of the water with a mineral base. (sand, gravel, etc) or B) install a drainage system to remove the water. A 6"x6" trench filled with gravel and covered with landscape cloth. Slope to the downhill side and extend at least 10' past the coop. After the water issue is resolved you can line the coop with the material of your choice.

This^^^
If there's no drainage nothing will stay dry, even if you had large roof overhangs water still might gather there. Look at 10's of feet around the coop and run, how does the land slope...where is rain water running?? Best to observe, and dig drainage trenches/seals/berms during hard rainfall as you can see where the water is going and direct it to where it will do no harm.

Pics of your coop and the surrounding area might help garner more viable suggestions.