Planning , and stumped about mud

[aart]

Good for you thinking about this problem BEFORE you build the coop.

My first suggestion is going to be uncomfortable, but it's worthwhile.

Get a good big handful of landscape flags, maybe in different colors, and then the next time it's raining REALLY HARD, put on your rain gear, go out in it, and mark the places where water runs through the landscape, where it pools, and where, hopefully, you have a high-and-dry spot.

Ditto Dat!

If you can't find a high and dry spot at least you'll see where the water runs to plan any trenches/drains accordingly.

 

[alicia-TX]

I had two French drains in my coop that I finally dug up yesterday. The boxes ended up being a trap for mud and food the girls scattered around which in-turn led to maggots. I will say the dirt eventually hardened up over time so it gets wet but not the deep muddy mess it was when just put in there.

 

[3KillerBs]

I had two French drains in my coop that I finally dug up yesterday. The boxes ended up being a trap for mud and food the girls scattered around which in-turn led to maggots.

Did you have drains that led the water out of the coop to a lower level or just pits that the water drained into in hope that it would soak into the soil below the surface?

 

[Shadrach]

Soak aways and French Drains are different. From what I've read most are advising soak aways.
If you're up for it and the ground is suitable I'm going to recommend a proper French drain. The important difference to note is a soak away does just that, it soaks and if you pour lots of water on it there comes a saturation point and it no longer works.
A French Drain works by diverting the water away from the area and as long as you've got the pipe bore correct it will function.
Dig a trench about 18 inches deep.
Get some large bore plastic pipe like gutter drain pipe and mark out a straight line along the length of the pipe required. At two inch intervals drill a half inch diameter hole through the pipe wall.
Lay landscaping cloth (I don't know what it's called in the US but it lets water but not dirt through) at the bottom of the trench.
Lay 4 inches of gravel (small stones) in the bottom of the trench on top of the landscaping cloth.
Lay the plastic pipe on top making sure the half inch holes are facing downward. This is really important and a lot of people get it wrong and the drain doesn't work as it should.
Cover the pipe with another 4 inches of gravel and then fold the edges of the landscaping cloth over the top making sure there is a large overlap.
Earth on top.

Edit. I forgot to mention that the plastic pipe must have a slope in one direction, the lowest end being the discharge point.

 

[3KillerBs]

A French Drain works by diverting the water away from the area and as long as you've got the pipe bore correct it will function.
Dig a trench about 18 inches deep.
Get some large bore plastic pipe like gutter drain pipe and mark out a straight line along the length of the pipe required. At two inch intervals drill a half inch diameter hole through the pipe wall.
Lay landscaping cloth (I don't know what it's called in the US but it lets water but not dirt through) at the bottom of the trench.
Lay 4 inches of gravel (small stones) in the bottom of the trench on top of the landscaping cloth.
Lay the plastic pipe on top making sure the half inch holes are facing downward. This is really important and a lot of people get it wrong and the drain doesn't work as it should.
Cover the pipe with another 4 inches of gravel and then fold the edges of the landscaping cloth over the top making sure there is a large overlap.
Earth on top.

THIS!

Very well explained.

In the USA we have a product that is a perforated pipe with a fabric "sock" over it that doesn't require the landscape fabric and is thus a little easier to install.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/4-in-x-100-ft-Corex-Drain-Pipe-Perforated-with-Sock-04730100BS/100129255

 

[SandyRiverChick]

I'm in your climate, outside of Portland but I lived in Seattle for 16years with chickens. I would have to ask myself when I'm going to the trouble of drain systems, if an easy cover wouldn't be less hassle/more effective.... I've never not had at least some part of the run covered because of what you fear, our climate. Are you feeding them in the run? Covering as much of the run as you can + a nice thick layer of wood chips is what I recommend.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'm in your climate, and I have a flat parcel so drains aren't really feasible. We have a LOT of existing ground water (we have a naturally green lawn year round, that's how much water we sit on). So I've dealt with everything from mud to flooding.

Roofing the run can help - my run is uncovered. Figuring out drainage on your site will also help - if possible, you want the coop and run to sit on a slightly higher area in the yard. If the available locations for the coop are fairly flat, then the easiest approach IMO is to gradually build up the litter in the run to allow water to drain out faster.

You will most likely want to use deep litter - sand is not very practical as it will not easily dry out in this climate, and deep litter is quite literally free around here - you can collect dried leaves, yard trimmings, etc from neighbors, and if you have space to store wood chips, tree companies are always looking to drop off full loads.

EDIT: Just got back to my computer to add this. Note the flood waters directly behind the run, vs the run itself. Yes it is still very wet, but the deep litter is just barely surface dry enough for the chickens to use the run despite about 2" of water rushing by just outside the fence.

 

[Sono]

We are in Seattle, and the coop/run will go on the South side of our new house. I cannot find a good plan for keeping the run from becoming a muddy mess in our notoriously wet weather. Currently the ground is grass, but once they tear that up what can I use to keep the ladies wet (besides covering the run)?

Im using plain, untreated, double ground hardwood mulch, no mud and the girls are happy with it. it is soft

 

[missmychicks]

So it doesn't absorb the water? Do you have to add more, or change it out or do they just scratch it into nothingness? This is the area we will be working with.

 

[Sono]

You could put in a french drain. Dig a trench from the coop to a downwards slope/hillside, add rock, a wrapped perforated pipe then fillit in... you will never have standing water again ( if you have no slope or hillside, you can just dig a sump pit, add a sump pump and run a hose to the drain or curb )