Coop flooring help

[rosemarythyme]

So wtf do I do with $130 on f coffee grounds?!

Compost? Or hang on to it until things dry out, and use it then.

Wood chips will get soggy fast in wet mud like that. I would go with sand or a sandy dirt mix to level it back up. Then wood chips on top of that.

Soggy yes, but they'll also create a drier surface on top while letting water drain down. So yes in this case I'd put in chips for now (even if you don't intend to use it long term) so you're creating a drier surface area at least. Build it up high enough and it does this. And yes the run is still soggy as heck, but at least it's stable enough for the flock to walk around on.

 

[MACCanadianCoop]

Compost? Or hang on to it until things dry out, and use it then.


Soggy yes, but they'll also create a drier surface on top while letting water drain down. Build it up high enough and it does this:

View attachment 3070218

Yes, but if the underlying issue is too much of the dirt floor has been removed, I'd want to replace that volume with something else (aka dirt or sand) and then add wood chips
*edit to add this based on experience working in stalls, not chicken coops. I'm assuming similar mechanics applies

 

[aart]

Yes, but if the underlying issue is too much of the dirt floor has been removed, I'd want to replace that volume with something else (aka dirt or sand) and then add wood chips
*edit to add this based on experience working in stalls, not chicken coops. I'm assuming similar mechanics applies

Not sure sand would be best for 'repelling' water infiltration....
...but might depend on how you reroute any water flowing/seeping into coop area.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes, but if the underlying issue is too much of the dirt floor has been removed, I'd want to replace that volume with something else (aka dirt or sand) and then add wood chips
*edit to add this based on experience working in stalls, not chicken coops. I'm assuming similar mechanics applies

Hmm never worked with enclosed stalls, but around here we do use wood chips as fill as well. Might be a difference in soil types/drainage though (plus it's not intended to be weight bearing).

No experience with sand though I've had local folks suggest I try it as fill instead.

For your situation maybe consider plain top soil to help re-level the area, though I'd still do chips on top to create a drier layer for the chickens to walk on.

 

[3KillerBs]

If you can't leave an open trench then you'll have to use French Drain and cover it up.

But the water has to be channeled out away from the coop to lower ground or the problem will return.

 

[Dogsothoth]

If you can't leave an open trench then you'll have to use French Drain and cover it up.

But the water has to be channeled out away from the coop to lower ground or the problem will return.

There was never a flood once before I cleaned it too good I’ve had this barn for like... 12 years.

So I’m digging a small trench, but my main focus is definitely replacing dirt, I guess. There’s too much mud AROUND my barn to dig a proper trench anyway. I’d have to move to a new property to truly solve the issue. Or add 100,000 tons of dirt. Hahaha. I wanted to make a LARGE sacrifice lot & redo my barn floors the same way for both my barns. But I can’t afford to right now, and I have a toddler as a single mom..... who runs away 24/7 if we go outside... and I’m hoping to move in a year. So all that work to do my small pasture & both barn floors so extremely..... ehhhh.... I’ll just add dirt.

 

[3KillerBs]

There's nothing wrong with dirt floor in a barn.

I'm kind of a fanatic in re: drainage.

 

[seminolewind]

My 12x14 coop is flooding. I just cleaned the coop after leaving it all winter (deep litter method) and I think I accidentally dug a lot of the dirt floor out.

My plan was to just dump a ton of barn lime down (that powdery stuff) and do coffee ground bedding on top but now that it’s flooding I think that’s a terrrrrrible idea. I already bought $130 worth of coffee ground bedding though. What can I put down to fix the flooding?

Alsooo.... how many chickens would you find comfortable for a 12x14 coop? Admittedly there’s hay in 1 corner, but the door stays open to a large pasture. I have goats & ponies that keep predators out. Predator free for YEARS!

Hi. You might as well use shavings like the rest of us. Don't count on being predator free . I think you should lock up the chickens at night or what I do is I have an attached pen built like for knox and the door stays open to the pen, and the chickens are well protected, wire on roof as well, and can use the pen.

I was believing that my other pen was impenitrable (sp), and nothing happened for 7 years, so I was relaxed. My pen had a small opening, like 6 inches by 10 inches and the pen was covered with a tarp. Well some smart racoon got under the tarp, thru the small hold and ripped up my 4 most loved birds. Then washed his hands in their water. One hen hid and made it , but died after 5 minutes in my arms. I was so devastated that I could not cry for a few months. Then I cried my eyes 0ut for days. It's been 7 or so years and I can cry at the drop of a hat. I don't know if I'll ever have peace of mind over this. I knew that small area needed to be wired in. But of course I was lulled into believing I was okay by not having anything happen in 7 years.

Be careful. Just because it hasn't happened yet does not mean it never will. Chickens smell like food to hundreds of animal species out there. Yum! a free meal. Hawks take a look every now and then (my chickens free range during the day). I see foxes now and then. I have seen some racoon prints around the coop. Scary.

 

[brozilla]

I don’t think they will. I threw out the receipt & paid cash. Ill prob use in the hot dry summer months & toss within a few months.

gardeners love coffee grinds; try local coop gardens or a garden center....