Need help with water flow

[linguini]

Yeah I'm just trying to get a plan before I get out there lol.
I've marked up the pics I just took...is this what yall would suggest?
I'm guessing the run side is definitely gonna need a French drain to let that pooling at run door drain.
But where would ya do the trench on that side?

Thanks for sharing the picture. I'd try the lazy/easy/cheap strategy first before the hard task of digging

You may try the followings:

1. put cinderblocks or pave stones along the edge of the coop base (or a foot away from the base) and along the base of the run. This can at least stop, to some extend, the surface level water going into the run from higher ground.

2. add sand in the run (and you can add wood chips on top of the sand later) - this allows you to observe if the sand on top do get wet or not

Cinderblocks/pave stones/sand are relatively cheap - and the Home Depot curbside service is terrific with these heavy duty items!

I had very similar problems to yours last year after chickens completely ate up the grass in the enclosed run even with the tarp covering the run, I used cinderblocks and pave stones on the upper slope side, and put down sand ( about 6 bags for 8x8 sqft area, did that twice over 12 months ). The sand elevated the ground level in the tarp covered run. The run remains dry regardless of rain/snow storm since.

 

[mowin]

How hard is the digging in your area? The "proper" french drain would be to dig down 12-14”x 12" wide. line the trench with landscaping fabric. Add 3-4" of #1 stone, then lay 3" perforated pipe in the trench and fill to the top of the pipe with stone. Cover that with landscaping fabric, and cover to the top of the trench with stone.
French drains shouldn't be covered with topsoil, but left open. To work properly, the lowest end of the pipe should be a ground level and not buried, as if it is your trench will fill up with water defeating it's purpose.

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

How hard is the digging in your area? The "proper" french drain would be to dig down 12-14”x 12" wide. line the trench with landscaping fabric. Add 3-4" of #1 stone, then lay 3" perforated pipe in the trench and fill to the top of the pipe with stone. Cover that with landscaping fabric, and cover to the top of the trench with stone.
French drains shouldn't be covered with topsoil, but left open. To work properly, the lowest end of the pipe should be a ground level and not buried, as if it is your trench will fill up with water defeating it's purpose.

Well it ain't easy that's for sure...and I have numerous health problems which complicates it all.
The trench I did last week is a good 12" or so deep in places and roughly 10" wide.

 

[mowin]

Well it ain't easy that's for sure...and I have numerous health problems which complicates it all.
The trench I did last week is a good 12" or so deep in places and roughly 10" wide.

I'd hire it out if you have the funds. Or if you think you can operate a mini excavator, rent one. I've installed many french drains over the yrs, and if done properly, they are very effective. Good luck.

 

[linguini]

@laneaj Just a thought:

Was checking out profile images of @tigger19687 and saw this set up - it may work for your run to divert the rain water - add a tarp under and along the straight sides of your current tarp and divert the water away from the base - at least the water from the tarp won't go directly into your run. You'll need ventilation from the shorter sides of the run!

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

Thanks for sharing the picture. I'd try the lazy/easy/cheap strategy first before the hard task of digging

You may try the followings:

1. put cinderblocks or pave stones along the edge of the coop base (or a foot away from the base) and along the base of the run. This can at least stop, to some extend, the surface level water going into the run from higher ground.

2. add sand in the run (and you can add wood chips on top of the sand later) - this allows you to observe if the sand on top do get wet or not

Cinderblocks/pave stones/sand are relatively cheap - and the Home Depot curbside service is terrific with these heavy duty items!

I had very similar problems to yours last year after chickens completely ate up the grass in the enclosed run even with the tarp covering the run, I used cinderblocks and pave stones on the upper slope side, and put down sand ( about 6 bags for 8x8 sqft area, did that twice over 12 months ). The sand elevated the ground level in the tarp covered run. The run remains dry regardless of rain/snow storm since.

I have to dig out the run soon anyway so I'll layer the bottom with sand and then the woodchips.
I think I could adjust the tarp to do the side and top as well which would level the front, back and low end side open for ventilation.
I'll try that n see if it's possible.

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

It's one thing I can do well...and consistent:

screw stuff up​

Had my daughter get the 25' trench started...I dug a little deeper yesterday once i saw the depth of the rain in what she had done. The water was flowing really well...til this morning.
Trench seems quite unnecessary now

as well as the "leveled" run I might add.
Now I'm left with a much larger mess thanks to my stubbornness.

 

[3KillerBs]

It's one thing I can do well...and consistent:

screw stuff up​

Had my daughter get the 25' trench started...I dug a little deeper yesterday once i saw the depth of the rain in what she had done. The water was flowing really well...til this morning.
Trench seems quite unnecessary now
View attachment 2982292
as well as the "leveled" run I might add.
Now I'm left with a much larger mess thanks to my stubbornness.

There's always something.

With your good ventilation it will dry out once you've got the tarps re-secured.

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

There's always something.

With your good ventilation it will dry out once you've got the tarps re-secured.

The metal structure is broken...I had to crawl out after it collapsed on top of me

 

[aart]

The metal structure is broken...I had to crawl out after it collapsed on top of me

Hard 'Tarp Lesson'.