Rain Proof A Dirt Floor?

[clogan98]

Hi!
Newbie in the process of designing and building a chicken coop for 3-4 hens. I'm hearing that dirt floors with the deep litter method is the way to go. I'm wondering how I would go about rain proofing the floor though? I am in the High Desert of Central Oregon, so it definitely doesn't rain often but I don't want to end up soaking the litter if it does. Any thoughts? A moat? Layer of gravel? Bury plastic? Hmmmm.....

 

[Clay Mudd]

Ideally, the coop should be positioned in a fairly high spot, so it's not being flooded by runoff, and will drain well. A generous roof overhang keeps direct rain off the bedding. I live ina fairly swampy area, and built the coop on a based of 4x4s, and added soil and sand to the floor, making an island of sorts. Even in rainy weather, the bedding doesn't get soaked.

Some more good ideas:


https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-fix-a-muddy-run-chicken-coop

 

[Judy]

I built the ground up so the coop is several inches higher than the surrounding area, so it will drain well. I also live in a hot climate so much of my coop is not solid walls. The roof overhangs. Rain does occasionally blow in a couple of areas; I simply don't have the feed anywhere near there. That litter gets somewhat damp sometimes, but not really soaked, certainly not puddling, and I just let it air dry. In the desert with sand, the ground under the litter will drain even better than mine.

I love my dirt floor coop, have had a number of them over the years, wouldn't have anything else. Actually just built another this week, to house them in the spent garden where they are feasting.

 

[clogan98]

Building the dirt floor up a bit. Well that makes sense, and embarrassingly, I hadn't thought of it. Thanks so much. I'm building my coop modular style because I don't own this home and god forbid I ever have to move, I need to be able to take it with me. I had planned on a wood floor but have had my plans changed after reading about dirt floors. I think I'll make a 3-4" base for the bottom and fill that up with dirt. That way the coop is still higher but has a dirt floor. The land is level there because it's going up against the house. Problem solved. : )