Chicken run wet, what did I do wrong?

[FutureProdigy]

I raised my coop/ run on pressure treated 2x4s, put gravel all around it to act as a channel and raised the inside of the coop with sand. I also covered it with tarps (so I know rain isn't blowing in) but the sand is soaked all around the perimeter.

Someone help me understand where I went wrong?

 

[Mary's Backyard Chickens]

First of all, since your a new egg...
Hmmmm...
I have no idea! Are you sure it didn't rain?

 

[Li'lFlock]

Well it’s covered, but there is no overhang, so moisture will just drip down, then wick to the path of least resistance. I’m sorry, I don’t think you clarified, did it rain, or is this from condensation, or both?

 

[FutureProdigy]

I guess I should clarified. These photos are after arain but I thought it would have remained dry after all the above precautions were taken

 

[Li'lFlock]

It doesn’t look like there’s any pooling, so it’s draining well. If you want it to stay more dry, you’ll need some sort of overhang for the drip line to be further away. Especially if you have a windy and rainy day.

 

[rosemarythyme]

There's no overhang to keep rain from just dripping into the run on the side as there's no actual roof, plus I'm guessing residual moisture will wick in from the surrounding ground.

Is there a reason this needs to be kept so dry? Chickens do just fine with a damp run, just don't want them soaking themselves in pooling water.

 

[Li'lFlock]

There's no overhang to keep rain from just dripping into the run on the side as there's no actual roof, plus I'm guessing residual moisture will wick in from the surrounding ground.

Is there a reason this needs to be kept so dry? Chickens do just fine with a damp run, just don't want them soaking themselves in pooling water.

Very true. My girls only hide from downpours and strong wind gusts. Then they run back out into the rain. Their feathers do a good job. I started doing some black oil sunflower seeds as their bedtime snack for colder weather. An added benefit is the oils coat their feathers even better. I already notice a nice sheen that will help them repell moisture more.

 

[ChickNanny13]

My Enclosure has an overhang plus I hang shower curtains but it still gets on one section, the water wicking from underside. Shavings (DLM) on the top normally stays dry but we just had the worst rain storm ever, the whole left back corner was WET! I raked out the wet shavings onto a tarp in the patio & spread the dry shavings which wicked up more moisture but it was not soaking wet. In a few days the soaked shavings dried out enough to toss back in.

It's pretty wet here, thought I'd have good drainage with the Enclosure on the high ground but the neighbor in the back is SLOWLY remodeling his yard & saw it funneling into my yard! Need to have a talk with him....

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!

Yep, wicking.....and there's a gap in your coverage.
Shouldn't be a problem a long as coop is dry inside.

 

[RonP]

Seems to me that all the run roof water will run down the side, then onto the exposed wire which is inside the lower covered section, onto the sand floor.