Wet coop...

[Suess Crew]

I have a concrete floor in my coop but when it rains a lot one back corner gets wet which in turns causes the shavings to get wet. Any ideas on how to fix it? Do you guys think sand in that area would be better than shavings? If so what kind of sand would be best?

 

[Gray Farms]

Sounds like a drainage problem outside the coop. Need to find out why the water is coming in.

 

[Folly's place]

It's about drainage, and needs fixing. Guttering on the eaves? Digging a drainage ditch away from that corner? Regrading? Leaky roof? Fixing the actual problem is best.
Wet sand won't be better!
For mild dampness, a rubber stall mat on top of the concrete will manage very well, with bedding over that.
Mary

 

[Suess Crew]

The roof isn't leaking but do you think maybe that wall could be? Maybe if I'm home again when it rains I can go out and see if it's the wall. Also I think it just gets wet while raining but then the chips soak it up and then can't dry its only on the very bottom of the chips that's wet when I moved them around.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you're sure it's not the roof then yes, check the walls, check the seams inside and out from floor to ceiling in that area, and check the way the flooring is angled there too (if that corner happens to be a lower spot rainwater would collect there.

Not only is damp bedding not a good thing, but if water is seeping into the walls that's going to cause structural issues over time.

 

[aart]

The roof isn't leaking but do you think maybe that wall could be? Maybe if I'm home again when it rains I can go out and see if it's the wall. Also I think it just gets wet while raining but then the chips soak it up and then can't dry its only on the very bottom of the chips that's wet when I moved them around.

I'd bet that it's a drainage problem at that corner of the coop and it's seeping in under the wall. Unless you see water marks on wall and/or underside of roof.

Need to look at water coming off the roof and where it goes on the ground. Might need to look while it's raining or may be able to see on the ground what's happening.

 

[Grits&Eggs]

I used sand in my coop for a while, was good and easy to clean, but....(there is always a but) when it came time for a big coop cleaning, it was a nightmare and heavy, and it does not compost so couldn't figure out where to dump it except the trash , so I quickly looked into and switched to deep litter. Good luck with your drainage, mine finally was fixed by digging a small, deep trench around the outside of the structure and filling it with rock.

 

[Suess Crew]

Thanks everyone we are getting lots of rain starting tonight so I should be able to find where the water is coming from.