Coop flooring help

[Dogsothoth]

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!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is there standing water around the coop? Can you get photos from outside?

You might want to look into trenching around the coop to help with drainage, while also working on building the floor level back up.

Do you have a wood chip pile? That's what I'd opt to start with. If the chips are aged, that would be ideal, as you could dump in several inches right away to get the mud under control at least.

Coffee grounds are prone to mold when damp, so I would not use any in this situation.

 

[mowin]

Definitely seems like the ground outside the coop is higher than inside. You need to regrade around the coop.
How is the coop built? Is it on blocks, or is it a pole barn style with poles set in the ground?
If it's on blocks, possibly raise it up another foot or so and fill it back in.

 

[Dogsothoth]

Is there standing water around the coop? Can you get photos from outside?

You might want to look into trenching around the coop to help with drainage, while also working on building the floor level back up.

Do you have a wood chip pile? That's what I'd opt to start with. If the chips are aged, that would be ideal, as you could dump in several inches right away to get the mud under control at least.

Coffee grounds are prone to mold when damp, so I would not use any in this situation.

So wtf do I do with $130 on f coffee grounds?! should I maybe use in summer season (I never get flooding) or on top of wood chips in summer season?

There is just mud outside, not a puddle like in here. Like I said, I think I dug the floor too low like an idiot. I can’t dig any drainage outside that corner because that’s my horse pasture on the outside - one step by a pony on the trench I dig, and it’s smooshed anyway. I will be digging draining in the front though. I don’t think it’ll solve the issue but at least help.

They have plenty of dry space in the center of coop, where I didn’t dig out too deep at least. But I can’t really put bedding down til I solve the moisture, it’ll all just get soaked.

 

[aart]

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

Take it back for a refund?

 

[Dogsothoth]

Take it back for a refund?

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.

 

[Chookiemom]

Not sure if it would help in this case but the first thing that comes to mind with temporarily fixing flooding is sand bags.

 

[Dogsothoth]

Definitely seems like the ground outside the coop is higher than inside. You need to regrade around the coop.
How is the coop built? Is it on blocks, or is it a pole barn style with poles set in the ground?
If it's on blocks, possibly raise it up another foot or so and fill it back in.

Wooden barn I was thinking do I put down limestone? Or can I get away with just putting down pine bark or wood chips?

 

[MACCanadianCoop]

Wooden barn I was thinking do I put down limestone? Or can I get away with just putting down pine bark or wood chips?

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.

 

[aart]

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.

Good coarse wood chippings will soak up the water.

But this OP still needs to address where the water is getting in and replace the dirt dug out.