Water Drainage

[stephamilly]

I am new to this board and I have really enjoyed learning from everyone. I hatched some FBCM chicks two weeks ago and I have some gold-laced cochin eggs in the incubator that are due to hatch this weekend. So, in preparation for my new babies, I am trying to fix my old chicken coop. I know it will be a couple of months before this coop will be needed but I wanted to get everything fixed up in advance. A big problem that I have noticed with my chicken coop is that water tends to buiild up not only in the birds' run but also in the covered building. I was wondering if anyone had installed a drainage system in their coop or what other ways you guys have found to keep water from building up so much. Thank you in advance for any advice you may have for me and my new little babies!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

With all this rain my coop is a little damp right now too. My idea is to install a grate in the floor under the bedding and dig a couple narrow trenches for some PVC pipe with holes drilled in the top so the water drains out the back side and runs off down the hill. I have to wait till Spring though

Meanwhile...extra bedding to stay above the water. We have had SOOO much wet weather it's impossible lately! Good luck!

 

[stephamilly]

Thank you for the advice! I was thinking the same thing about running some pvc pipe to drain the water out, but I wanted to get some expert opinions first. lol

 

[Ridgerunner]

Let me give you a link to Pat's "Fix a Muddy Run" page. She's real good at this type of stuff.

Muddy Run
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642-fix-a-muddy-run

I'd think you first need to see where the water is coming from, especially inside the coop, and see if you can keep it out.

I don't know what your set-up is, but if you can fill it with sand you may be able to really help yourself. Sand drains really well. They will scratch out dust bath areas so they will get down to the water level, but at least most of the area will be above the water. Main thing is to keep it out in the first place if you can. I added some straight clay dirt in my coop to build it up so the water cannot run in from the outside and dug a swale along the uphill side of the run so the water does not run in there.

 

[stephamilly]

Thanks for the information! I think that I will be able to put sand in the coop and try some of the things from that link.

I think that my problem is water running downhill and into the coop. Digging a trench that leads away should help prevent most of the water problem.