Major issues with coop area& other flock related things

[Tinkey71]

So, I basically live in the Florida swamp...it is ok most of the times, but a few times a year our land gets flooded. Right now my coop area is a small pond. I do my best most of the time to keep things dry for them (spread hay, clean out everything from the mud, give them raised areas for food, etc) but right now it is impossible to even get out there and do anything. We're talking I am wading out there in way over ankle deep water just to feed. Their coop bedding is moist, even though its covered because of the moisture in the area. I want to build them a better area, but can't even really do that when it's this wet. I am frustrated- they aren't laying and a few of them look terrible (major molting going on). I have 14 ducks and 12 chickens and one pig in this mess.
I recently decided the ducks weren't worth the effort- messy, mean and eat A LOT and don't hardly lay....we tried to eat one (yes I know it is considered cruel by some, but I don't) and after all day of plucking, etc. , there was hardly any meat on it. I am trying to rehome some. Have enjoyed the chickens, but starting to feel it is not feasible out here. The money I spend to keep these birds is WAY more than the eggs I receive (sometimes so many that I have to give away 3-4 dozen- other times nothing). Selling in Florida is a pain unless you do it from your own land- and no one is coming out here to buy a dozen eggs. Just frustrated- have had my chickens 14 months.

 

[Mrs. K]

Try laying pallets down in the run. You usually can get them free, then put the bedding on top.

I too am only getting an egg a day, if you keep them next year when you are getting scads of eggs, freeze them. Stir them up as for scrambled eggs, and pour either straight into a freezer bag, or put them in a muffin tin, and freeze, then bag. Got "2" eggs right now thawing for todays cake.

Hope that helps

Mrs K

 

[CatWhisperer]

I hate to say you’re right but it doesn’t sound like chicken-friendly property.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Unfortunately when flooding is that widespread on your property there really isn't much that you can do, as it's not a drainage issue and even attempts to "build up" a usable patch of land may or may not work.

For now pallets are probably the best bet to artificially raise the floor level of the run while not impeding water from draining through.

 

[50-45-1]

Hi, i am sorry your situation has left you with this defeated and depressing situation.
i am thinking from your description that your property is not really 'chicken friendly'. maybe downsize to only 4 or 5 hens that will still allow you to still have some and give you and your family fresh eggs. it would be a manageable number that you could situate a new coop and run area on higher ground somewhere closer to the house and still not give up on chickens completely.
hope this works out for you.

 

[Acre4Me]

You can ask in the FL forum on BYC. Go to “where am I, where are you” forum. At the top should be a pinned post -within that you can find the FL thread. Others in FL are more familiar with your issue.

we had so much rain this past year, it washed out part of our run bedding. We added a huge load of chipped wood. We have a chain link run, so needed to put up a barrier to keep this stuff inside the run. We added some 2x4s (one on top of another -wide side facing out) and it has kept it inside the run...mostly. But now their ground is about a foot thick of chopped up/chipped wood sourced from a tree guy. It was very affordable too.

another BYCer actually paid to raise the whole area where the coop is located -in a portion of their land that does flood due to heavy rain events. This worked for them, but was a larger project.

a person down the street from me spent time to construct a platform for his dogs and their doghouse. You could potentially do this too. However, chickens like to scratch around, so you might need to add a “sandbox” of sorts with wood ash, sawdust, peat moss, sand, loose dirt fit their dust bathing.

good luck to you!