Building a coop in the tropics

[SilkieBrush]

Im in the process of designing a new, bigger coop for my silkies. I live in the tropics, so I get a lot of rain on occasions, and a lot of sun in others.

What are good bedding options for a run?

I wouldn't want my chickens to be walking on mud if possible and I need something to keep the coop clean of their waste. I will be installing an appropriate roof, but sometimes it rains with wind so the possibility will always be there as enclosing the coop is not an option unless id wanted my chickens to suffocate.

Any advice on this? Things to consider outside of just the bedding?

Anything would be of help!

 

[tlcmurphy]

Im in the process of designing a new, bigger coop for my silkies. I live in the tropics, so I get a lot of rain on occasions, and a lot of sun in others.

What are good bedding options for a run?

I wouldn't want my chickens to be walking on mud if possible and I need something to keep the coop clean of their waste. I will be installing an appropriate roof, but sometimes it rains with wind so the possibility will always be there as enclosing the coop is not an option unless id wanted my chickens to suffocate.

Any advice on this? Things to consider outside of just the bedding?

Anything would be of help!

@CabritaChicks may be able to help

 

[thecatumbrella]

@CabritaChicks may be able to help

You read my mind! @CabritaChicks, you're being summoned!

She just built something too, so everything should be fresh in mind.

 

[CabritaChicks]

Welcome to the forum!

In my experience, the best place to start is with your soil and drainage. Test it! In the tropics especially, the permeability of your ground makes a huge difference. We just went through a Cat 5- and trust me there was flooding, but the location of the coop, and the testing of the soil composition saved my birds that were kept 100% inside while I was out of town.

After that, watch how water runs off during rain—standing water is the real enemy. A little puddling is fine, but stagnant water becomes a breeding ground for tropical bugs you’ll definitely want to avoid.

Here’s the thing: I don’t know your exact setup, but I will say this—pine chips or anything highly absorbent in a run are a nightmare. They just trap moisture and make things worse. Sand is a much better option for the RUN. If you want to go the extra mile, use a post-hole digger or drill auger to create a few drainage holes so water has somewhere to go downward instead of sitting on the surface. Moisture management is everything so overhangs and finding your windward side is paramount.

If you’re curious, you can check out my coop page (right below my name)—you might like the approach. I’ve focused on plenty of ventilation to balance out the rain and heat.