My First Coop! (In Progress) Pic heavy.

[SKYLINE]

I need help guys!! @aart since you were helping with the roof situation check this out! My run roof is a complete disaster. I mounted it wrong and today after the first heavy rain my run is FLOODED! Now I know this part of the yard has some slopes in it and I planned to fix that with more soil and some wood chips. After I added the roof I thought it would be better but I screwed up and half of my roof is strictly decoration. The plastic roofing cracked, came undone and provided a slit and just as aart said it helps run water into the run. The coop, however, is completely dry. No water on the floor, roost's, or nest boxes thankfully but I don't know what to do. The plastic roofing is like 23 dollars a sheet and I don't wanna waste more money on it. Can I buy like a tarp instead? Maybe it a brown one because I hate the loud blue and can I somehow mount the tarp over the plastic roofing (after modified) and will that work? Also on woodchips none of my local arborist or giving me any results I even asked to pay and I get the runaround. Can I buy natural wood mulch or something like they sell at Walmart for the time being? I was planning on purchasing my chickens this weekend but now this is stalling me.

 

[SKYLINE]

As you can see under the coop the ground is dry so the water didn't slope there it came in from the roof. I don't know where I went wrong

 

[MissChick@dee]

Tarps come in different colors, sizes, thickness etc. mine are clear and reinforced with fibers. Looks to me like you can’t build over the fence ( neighbors yard ) I would built the roof run so it’s higher on the neighbors side and would drain/run onto your cement walkway. Perhaps remove your plastic roofing re-use what you have (use it length wise). You’d have to buy a couple more sections tho.
You’d face the same problem with tarps kinda. The weight of the snow or water will sag from too much. You’d need bracing and a tilt for drainage with tarps too.

 

[SKYLINE]

Tarps come in different colors, sizes, thickness etc. mine are clear and reinforced with fibers. Looks to me like you can’t build over the fence ( neighbors yard ) I would built the roof run so it’s higher on the neighbors side and would drain/run onto your cement walkway. Perhaps remove your plastic roofing re-use what you have (use it length wise). You’d have to buy a couple more sections tho.
You’d face the same problem with tarps kinda. The weight of the snow or water will sag from too much. You’d need bracing and a tilt for drainage with tarps too.

I can put a bit behind that wood it’s drilled down to the fence and if I had to remove it for a sec not impossible. Also a clear tarp would be perfect but I didn’t see any at my Home Depot. I can reinforce a tard aslong as I make it an angle. And it never snows here so I won’t have to worry about that.

 

[aart]

I don't know where I went wrong

Did you check the level/slope of the framing on your run?
Putting a tarp might help...or not.
You might also need some drainage trenches around the coop and run,
to carry any runoff away from the area.

 

[MissChick@dee]

^^what @aart said.^^
You’ll need to raise (for slope) one side. I ordered tarps on line. Much thicker and sturdier than anything at Home Depot. I tried HD’s tarps last year ~ crap! Search on line if you want them fast Amazon delivers.

 

[SKYLINE]

In what direction should I make the slope?

 

[aart]

In what direction should I make the slope?

To the side that would be the best to carry the runoff.
Probably away from coop as you don't want it going against the fence, nor onto the sidewalk.

 

[SKYLINE]

Is dyed mulch safe for chickens? I can’t get with any arbor company’s and at my store there’s some mulch on sale for gardening.. it’s Cyprus wood not cedar which I know is back. I’m just not sure about the black or red dye they put on it. I wanna use it for my run.

 

[Frank3]

skyline....there is tree company in BR called Asplundh...they are everywhere in those orange trucks. they are happy to unload wood chipping for free.