How do I safely dry up standing water?

[OnyxRose]

Hurricane Hermine blew through Florida today, but had sent plenty of storms ahead in the days before. I brought my chickens inside on Thursday because the whole back yard - including their coop and run - were flooded six inches deep. Most of them wouldn't get off the roost and the two that would were soaking wet when I brought them in.

Now that the rains have moved on, most of the water has drained away, but there are still a few puddles 3-4 inches deep and the mud is very soft in most of the yard; I sink down a couple inches when I walk on it.

Normally drainage after even heavy rains isn't a problem, but we got a LOT more than our usual amount of rain in the last few days. What can I use to dry up the water that's left in a way that's safe for my chickens?

 

[Howard E]

Unless these puddles of water are something you normally see after a "normal" heavy rain event.......2 inches or more.........likely as not they will be gone in a few days and it will be back to normal.

If puddles are normal and typical after heavy rains the some changes in drainage might be called for, but that does not sound like it is what happens?.

 

[Dmontgomery]

Maybe you could try to use a push broom or something to push the water out of the hole into an area that will soak it up. It would be extremely messy but a quick temporary fix. Then add dirt or sand where the holes are so next time it will be higher and won't hold the water. I know this isn't a very good solution but it's quick and easy.

 

[OnyxRose]

No, we don't normally have standing water after rain. But we got something like 12 inches over the course of two and a half days, and it was more than our yard could handle!

Most of the water is soaked into the ground this morning, but the mud is still very soft and squishy, and the straw in their coop is completely waterlogged. I'm going to have to shovel that out before I can put them back outside. They're in a dirt-floor coop with straw bedding, but I'm thinking I might want to put some sand down before I put the next bag of straw in. We've still got a few months left in hurricane season and August-October tends to be the most active period.

 

[Howard E]

You might also consider leaving it as is, except to pile your new straw, etc right on top of what you have now. Build it up deeper and higher. It will soon dry up down below and in the meantime, be dry and clean on top.

We have had an abnormally wet summer and that is what I've done. I just keep adding to what is there and the top they walk around on is normally dry. Even during a heavy rain event, it is clean and no mud. Within hours of the rains stopping the top is drying out. The part down below stays damp, but is also starting to rot/compost. I see that as a good thing.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Can you toss some boards or such in there above the mud for them to walk on? Maybe put them up on cinder block or something like that if they sink in too much. It sounds like it’s a temporary thing so a quick temporary fix may work best.