Drainage problem....

[Jeremy128]

As previously stated, I am planning on building a decent sized coop and run using approximately 35 pallets. I was planning on digging out the dirt and filling with gravel, then covering with dirt or sand. Las weekend I dug out the area where the coop will be. During the week, we had a massaged storm. Since then, the area has had standing water in it and is not draining.
So, I had a different idea. I was considering raising the coop off if the ground a few inches by using small concrete piers underneath the coop. For the run, I was considering a row of cinder blocks around the perimeter and building the fence on top of them. Then filling the bottom with gravel, sand and then some dirt.
I figure when we get that much rain again, the coop and run will be off of the ground so the chickens will not be walking around and living in mud.
Does this sound like a reasonable solution to the problem? Also, what are other ways people have addressed this problem?

 

[blucoondawg]

Wouldn't it make more sense and be less work to just have some fill of some sort delivered and spread it out in that area so it is no longer a low spot which holds water? That way you could build however you like without going through added work to avoid water problems and the rain water would just run off to the lower ground around the area you filled.

 

[4 the Birds]

You should have just placed your gravel on the ground instead of digging out a coop area. I think you have the right idea with adding a deck blocks or conc piers at the base. A raised up coop is definitely what you want to keep it dry inside. Even a few inches can make a big difference. You will be most happy with a wood floor in the coop with bedding on top. The run can be dirt or sand. My run does not drain well so I added plywood sheets and a lot of straw and pine chips to keep out mud during the big rains and Spring thaw.

 

[Jeremy128]

Blue coon, in an ideal situation that would work. The problem is that my house is built into a hillside. The are that I am putting the coop was man made. The builders dug out an area along the hill, built my house, and ran a large stone retaining wall along the front of the house and continued the wall past the house. Hen they filled in the are next to the house with dirt. While it makes a relatively flat area for the kids to play next to the house, with heavy rains, the water flows down the hill and over saturates the flat area. This is good for my garden, but bad for a coop/run. I would have to fill and level an area approximately 100x50 then build a very large French drain system that runs from one end if the yard area, continue behind my house then divert the water away from the house.
I agree that idea would be better. But at this point it is cost prohibitive.

 

[Jeremy128]

When I dug the coop area, I piled the dirt next to it, and left it there. I think I am going to shovel it back in and put the gravel over it.
I may skip the cinder locks and build the run normally. I may place some type of barrier around the inside of the fence and pour a few inches of gravel and sand inside it.

 

[speedy2020]

I wouldn't dug up the coop area, but add a lot more dirt and sand so the area 3-6 inches higher than the run. Have you consider raise the coop of the ground for about 20-24"? I used 3 piles of 8" x16" cement block to raise the coop above ground and the cost would be around $20 from Home Depot or Lowes.

 

[Jeremy128]

My initial plans were to build an elevated coop so the chickens could go underneath for shade. But I changed my mind for a few reasons. Instead I decided to build a walk in coop. Long term I think it would be easier to maintain, clean, and get the eggs from. Another reason is that I have three kids that will be in and out of the coop. My youngest is 18 months old. It would be better for the kids to be able to walk straight in and out instead if climbing stairs to an elevated coop.
I think it would be better to have one step, maybe two to walk into the coop.
I am going to build the coop from pallets. The floor will be four pallets screws together and reenforced. Then I think I'm gonna place it on the piers.
A buddy of mine works for a shipping company. He got permission for me to take "as many pallets as I want"! So, today I am gonna go get 35 pallets and see how far that gets me.
So far I have $28 in 2x4's invested in my coop. The only other expenses I see so far will be hinges, nails, and some other assorted hardware. I even got the shingles and insulation for free!

 

[Jeremy128]

Got it sorted out......
That buddy of mine came through and I picked up 40 pallets today! The pallets are 40x40, which is different than what I had in mind, but they will work fine. So the coop will end up being 46.24 square feet, which is huge for 6 chickens. Which is part of the plan for expa ding the flock (don't tell my wife).
Anyway, I'm going to nail together four pallets into a square then nail 2x4's Round the perimeter to make the floor a bit more rigid. Then place the floor on 9 cement piers (one for each corner and every point where pallets meet.
I figure that will keep the floor elevated enough to keep it dry in heavy rains, and solid enough to hold weight.

 

[blucoondawg]

I don't know where you are located or what type of soil you have but are you going to dig down and install your piers a few feet down or are you just going to pile blocks on the surface for piers? I ask this because in my area when I put sheds or coops on blocks they will eventually settle into the ground and I have to jack up the building and ad more blocking, which isn't a problem if all your piers are on the outer edges of the building but if you have piers underneath in the center then you may have a hard time getting them jacked and supported decent if they sink. If I were going to use surface blocking rather than a good pier foundation and I needed support in the center I would elevate my shed a little more and put some sort of beam across to support the center and put the beam on blocks at the edge that way it will still be supported yet easy to jack up and straighten when it sinks. You may not have this issue but it's something to consider.

 

[Jeremy128]

Haha! I was just sitting on the couch thinking about the exact same issue! I think after a couple years I may have settling issues. The soil seems to have a lot of clay in it, underneath some gravel. It seems to be pretty soft. The house is 13 years old, and the dirt was put there for landscaping reasons due to the house being on a hill. I was considering placing 12"x6" cement pavers underneath the piers to increase the surface area for weight distribution in an effort to reduce/slow settling or sinking of the piers.
I like your idea of running a beam across the middle underneath! I'd imagine that would also strengthen the floor as well. If I screwed a 2x4 to the bottom center of the floor, then had piers on each end that were placed on pavers, do you think that would work?
By the way, thank you for the advice!