HELP Flooding - Sand in Coop?

[Onyx961]

I live in Georgia. We have been having far more rain than usual and have had flooding on the farm - including the chicken coop. I have never had flooding like this. No rain is expected for the next 2 days and I am going to clean out the coop due to the flooding. I have used pine shavings for years and am considering going to sand. Since I am going to have to scrape down to clay (natural dirt floor under shaving), I thought this might be the time to make the change. My girls are true free range chickens, I open the coop door in the morning and (after accounting for everyone) close the coop door at sundown. My coop is a fixed structure (not portable). I just want to hear from others who may have some experience and/ or advice. Again this is not a recurring issue. First time I have had flooding in the coop and I have been keeping chickens over 8 years.
Thanks y'all!

 

[cavemanrich]

If it was my coop that was flooding, this is what I would do to keep it dry forward.
Take a note where the flooding level reached inside your coop. I would fill the floor area with crushed rock to that level. On top of that I would place a layer of garden fabric, the type used to stop weeds from growing. On top of fabric, place a layer of the desired sand you want. Course sand is the best for that. I would aim for about 3 to 4 inches. The garden fabric will keep the sand from falling in between the stones. With the porous stone layer below , your sand will drain well, and quickly, should it encounter water. That means it will be dry most of the time
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Onyx961]

Thanks! Had not thought of the garden fabric between the gravel and sand! I'll do that! Thank you!!!!

 

[Onyx961]

Update... rain has slowed significantly. I cleaned out the coop, down to the clay, let it dry 48 hours. I put down landscaping/ garden fabric then a layer of gravel then another layer of landscaping/ garden fabric then 4 inches of construction grade sand. The sand was still damp when I put it down but is drying out. And best of all, though there is still some moisture in the sand, my girls are not wading in the muck and water!!! So far so good.

 

[analyticalblonde]

Because of the slow slope away from our house which leads towards our coop, we experience the east and north sides inside the coop and run with water. Hubby is going to be digging a trench outside, around the perimeter and filling with gravel so the water will flow into the trench and not seep into the coop and run.

 

[Onyx961]

Update #2
We had another 4 inches of rain in 3 days. I am thrilled to report the coop stayed dry (that is if you don't count the chickens shaking off the water after getting caught in the rain). The sand was wet when I put it in because there was no dry sand to be found but it too is drying despite the rain. The sand is drying slowly but it IS drying. Scooping is still a challenge since the sand is still damp but each day gets a little easier.
I had read sand in humid climate was not recommended but I am in Georgia and so far so good.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Glad the sand is working out for you!