Is any one else hating the rain?

[TheYLWFlock]

I hate rain too. I have a whole rain prep ritual to keep the run from flooding or collapsing. The things we do for these little feathered poopers.

It’s true! I love them to bits, and I find myself dong a lot for them, haha!

Here in Washington we just have on and off rain 24/7 no snow or sun anytime soon!

Yep! I think we’re stuck in the same weather loop, since we’re not too far from each other!

I am not a fan of excessive rain, but I really dislike the wind.

I hate wind! I’m glad we dont have too much of that but it was blowing up a storm the other day!

 

[jonezjollyfarm]

Omg the wind sucks too! Our run roof is a canopy. Which tends to hold water (fixed by propping a long board where it pools). And I'm always paranoid it's going to blow off in strong wind. But dont get me started on the snow. Nothing like getting up in the middle of the night to go beat the snow off so it doenst collapse. You'd think it would just slide off..m wrong. I keep hoping someone will leave a big bag of money on my door step so I can rebuild with a metal carport and sleep through cold winter nights.

 

[Killer Tomato]

Here in Washington we just have on and off rain 24/7 no snow or sun anytime soon!

Yeah, Oregon here. The rainy season started late this year - November. It will be just about constant until May. I have sand for my coop floor, and it's wonderful. My chickens have the whole back yard to explore, and hang out on the covered patio when the rain is really heavy.

We just get used to doing things in the rain. There's no tourists out now, and the parks and trails are *mine* again -- that's a plus.

I'm not saying I love it, but it's something I just have to deal with. Or sob on the couch for 7 months, which I have considered.

 

[TheYLWFlock]

Yeah, Oregon here. The rainy season started late this year - November. It will be just about constant until May. I have sand for my coop floor, and it's wonderful. My chickens have the whole back yard to explore, and hang out on the covered patio when the rain is really heavy.

We just get used to doing things in the rain. There's no tourists out now, and the parks and trails are *mine* again -- that's a plus.

I'm not saying I love it, but it's something I just have to deal with. Or sob on the couch for 7 months, which I have considered.

Wow! I actually like the sand idea! How does it work? Do you have to change it every year? I would guess then that the water just drains right through and then it’s easy to pick up the poop as well, you can just use a cat litter scoop? How much does it cost and how deep does it need to be? Like on top off dirt how many inches? Sorry for all of the questions!

Omg the wind sucks too! Our run roof is a canopy. Which tends to hold water (fixed by propping a long board where it pools). And I'm always paranoid it's going to blow off in strong wind. But dont get me started on the snow. Nothing like getting up in the middle of the night to go beat the snow off so it doenst collapse. You'd think it would just slide off..m wrong. I keep hoping someone will leave a big bag of money on my door step so I can rebuild with a metal carport and sleep through cold winter nights.

We haven’t gotten snow yet but I’m sure it’s coming!

 

[Melky]

Yeah I feel ya! I hate rain too. It’s a necessary evil for the garden. Hate for dog and chicks cuz hard to keep clean and run gets water puddles plus wet mulch inside. I have been adding leaves to fill in to prevent water puddles. I obviously go through more mulch this time of year to stay dry.

 

[Melky]

We have snow coming soon couple more weeks probably.

 

[Fluffy_Feathers]

We haven't had a whole lot of rain lately, but I know what you mean. It was raining so much one night that the chicken run area got pretty flooded (a few inches of standing water), and their feeder (which was on the ground at the time) got soaked, so I got my dad's rain coat and went out there to clean it out. Somehow I got the inside of the coat wet, so he was kind of annoyed lol. Then when it dries and it's like 90 degrees the next day and the run is disGUSTING. I put leaves in there though so that helps with the flies. I'm glad I got muck boots now. I came close to slipping and falling so many times

 

[TheYLWFlock]

Yeah I feel ya! I hate rain too. It’s a necessary evil for the garden. Hate for dog and chicks cuz hard to keep clean and run gets water puddles plus wet mulch inside. I have been adding leaves to fill in to prevent water puddles. I obviously go through more mulch this time of year to stay dry.

Yes it’s annoying! I’m using the leaves as well.

We haven't had a whole lot of rain lately, but I know what you mean. It was raining so much one night that the chicken run area got pretty flooded (a few inches of standing water), and their feeder (which was on the ground at the time) got soaked, so I got my dad's rain coat and went out there to clean it out. Somehow I got the inside of the coat wet, so he was kind of annoyed lol. Then when it dries and it's like 90 degrees the next day and the run is disGUSTING. I put leaves in there though so that helps with the flies. I'm glad I got muck boots now. I came close to slipping and falling so many times

It’s bad! I hate the smell. I’m going to go and get a bunch of my lavender and put a bunch in there as well as make some lavender water which I will spray around a bit. I also got some beautiful smelling 5 wood shavings that smell so good, so I may put those in as well. Problem is, things don’t really dry off, so we’re just stuck with disgusting smelling poop, mud and leaves.

 

[Killer Tomato]

Wow! I actually like the sand idea! How does it work? Do you have to change it every year? I would guess then that the water just drains right through and then it’s easy to pick up the poop as well, you can just use a cat litter scoop? How much does it cost and how deep does it need to be? Like on top off dirt how many inches? Sorry for all of the questions!


We haven’t gotten snow yet but I’m sure it’s coming!

Yes, we change out the sand every year. We did 1 large bag, 50 lbs, and it was about $5? Washed, construction grade sand, not "play" sand (which is very fine, and can lead to respiratory issues). The large bag covered the concrete floor of our 5X8 foot coop with about 2-3 inches. I would do as much as you can over a dirt floor, depending on drainage. (if you have a leaky coop, or your birds are inside all the time). I do have a ladder that leads from the roosts down the floor, so the heavier birds don't hurt their feet hopping down (I noticed some limping from my hefty gals before the ladder).

Every morning, I would just scoop up the poops with a kitty litter scoop. It takes about a minute. It's really nice for when the chickens come inside from the rain to lay their eggs, as their muddy feet get cleaned with the sand. Yes, they do track the sand into the nest boxes, but it's easy to wipe it off the eggs. I have old mattress pads as nest liners, and I just shake those off (no more sand), wash, or throw them away.

I'm *absolutely* not getting into the sand in the coop/straw debate, as far as warmth, etc. We don't get that cold here. We have triple insulation, pretty mild temps, and my coop has never dropped below 32 F (I know this, because the water has never frozen). If I were in South Dakota, I would consider other methods to raise the coop temp, I'm sure! If we have a big cold snap, my boyfriend will bring the hens in the bed with us, if I let him.

People always ask what to do with the old sand when we change it out? We just pile it into the wheel barrow, and drag it to a low, muddy spot in. the back of the yard.

I hope this helps!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Plenty of rain here, it was pouring so hard yesterday that the roof gutters on the porch were a waterfall, they couldn't handle the sheer volume. I went out to the run and was dismayed to see several large puddles in the corners. But when I checked again about 1 1/2 hrs later, the puddles were completely gone - the soil absorbed what it could and then the litter matted over it so the chickens were able to use the run once the rain tapered off. I've been dumping all my spare leaves and small branches in there.