Bottom of pine shavings wet and moldy. Why?

[clairabean]

That may be one of the cutest coops I have ever seen!

I am thinking that there is just not enough movement in the shavings. It is packed in so closely with no room to 'breathe' or for the shavings to be stirred up. The moisture gets in and never has enough air to dry out. The birds are packing it down and not stirring.

 

[aubreynoramarie]

maybe you could mix the pine with straw? thats what i do

 

[ll]

I have the same playhouse for my daughter -- it has many "drainage" holes in odd places, did you fill the interior columns/panels with expanding foam or sand or are the wall still filled with air? My guess is maybe one hole remains open.
Good luck~!
(I've often admired your playhouse coop, I brought home ours with the intention of making one but my daughter luvs to play in it)

 

[lightfoot]

eye catching coop. excellent job of adding silicone seal, adding rubber seals, no water will get in there. but no water will get out either. plastic will sweat, chickens breath producing moisture, etc. you need several square feet of vents at the top of vertical walls. you could also open some windows to allow air flow. maybe put in some floor drains and replace the absorbent shavings with coarse sand.

 

[elmo]

In addition to the issues others have raised, take a look at your ventilation (I couldn't see it in the photos, not sure if the windows are covered with plastic or what). Chickens produce an amazing amount of moisture just from their own respiration (not to mention droppings). It's recommended to have at least 1 square foot of vent per chicken.

 

[bryan99705]

Appears you may have several minor problems rather than just one but the primary issue, I feel, may be self induced from trying too hard.

Questions: How often do you clean out the coop? What's the weather like? Exactly what modifications to the coop did you make to the factory design (plug holes, seam seal, insulate, etc)? Any chance of a sprinkler system from the yard or or a neighbors reaching the coop? What is your watering plan, is the fount leaking? Any chance a neighbor or child is involved? Are the roof panels tight (possible gapped by the chickens weight on the roost, moving of the coop unit or settling)?

Suggestions: Raise the coop a couple inches for off the ground onto a stable base and re-level for drainage and air circulation, remove the chips, give the coop a through cleaning and kill the mold, drill several small drain holes in the floor or clean out the original ones, remove the caulking and seals you installed to the lower half of the unit, if you prefer lay down a weed mat first to prevent drain holes replugging but switch to COARSE sand or pea gravel for litter. (keep chips in the nests if you want, they sift out easily) Sand is easy to clean and allows drainage instead of absorbing and holding the moisture like chips do which leads to mold when the sun warms the coop. Insure you have good ventilation (never hurts to add more) in the coop because the chickens generated a lot of moisture plus their poo is moist plus condensation on the ceiling from their body heat. Check any inside watering systems for leaks.

Note: Cold chicken feet due to cold sand is not a big issue, if their feet truly get cold they will simply roost and sit on their feet.

Reasoning: As a childs yard playhouse, this was designed to sit out in the rain and snow then drain and dry out to provide a dry, mold free play area for young children. I think you sealed it too much so the water cannot drain as designed and the air cannot circulate to dry the interior plus chips don't drain, they absorb.

I may be full of it but if you would, try this, it may be a cheap fix and may save you a major coop overhaul or loosing birds.

 

[carrlr]

Awesome coop!! Just a couple observations. It appears you might be on a slope. Is it possible that your getting some run-off? Also, as some have said, perhaps it's sealed so well you're getting condensation and it doesn't dry out. I use the deep litter method with DE and its effective at keeping mine nice and dry.

 

[patandchickens]

It ain't condensation, for sure. Betcha anything. Way too much ventilation for that to be causing SUCH dampness.

My top two bets would be a) waterer leaking/spilling/sloshing, and or b) that it's from rain coming in those big windows that have relatively no overhang.

If you are absolutely positive it is neither of them, then my suspicion would be that you have a leak on the outside of the roof or walls that is letting water into the inside space of the hollow walls and it is then leaking out again at the bottom of 'em into your bedding.

If you are having trouble finding the problem, remove absolutely all bedding, kick chickens out into the run, then go sit inside the coop yourself while someone splashes hose water onto the roof continually. Sit there for at least 10 min or so, looking for water appearing on floor.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[BoltonChicken]

no water will get in there. but no water will get out either.

Exactly. You have in effect, built a swimming pool for your chickens. The pine shavings absorb moisture readily, have a lot of surface area, and dry quickly.
That is the benefit of using them. Sand will dry quickly on the surface, but retain the water below the surface where no air can get to it. If you do not have
drainage (say a dirt base) then DO NOT use sand. Raise the house up off the ground would be the first step and let some air underneath. There is almost
no way to over-ventilate a chicken house. You may have to drill some holes in the floor to either allow the water to go out or the air to come in.​

 

[duckinnut]

I have a couple of concerns,some already mentioned by others, but you might what to elevate the coop just a little. Moisture could be wicking up from the ground or condensation forming from the warm interior and cool ground.Some have said it can't be condensation,but put something on the ground plywood a plastic tarp for a day or so then lift it up,guess what its damp under there. So it could be your source. Also next time you clean it out get inside with nothing in it and have someone spray the coop with a hose (everywhere) and see if water is getting in that way.