Is cardboard okay for bottom of coop?

mandamay28

Chirping
Apr 20, 2016
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I'm getting ready to move our babies to their coop. They are 5 weeks old and wreaking havoc on my florida room floor! Wondering if I can lay cardboard down on the coop floor for easy clean up once a month. I eventually plan top build a better coop at the rear of our property but for now we covered a shed into a coop. It's taken long to do than I thought and my babies have out grown their box and want to explore. Also, Shaved pine for bedding in coop on top of cardboard? How deep? I'll be scooping daily.
TIUA!
 
To cover the floor will take a lot of cardboard. That cardboard will eventually get wet and soggy and cause problem when shoveling with the shovel digging in and tearing it up. Eventually it will be a soggy mess that you'll need to remove and dispose of. If you could find a remnant of linoleum flooring that might work better...simply lay it down so the edges curl up the sides of the shed some. Much easier to shovel than damp cardboard and could even be removed and hosed off if needed. Wood shavings...I would think starting out with a couple of inches would be good...and go from there. How big is he coop/shed?

Ed
 
Ed has a good idea -- and I agree that the cardboard would require frequent replacement. It will eventually get wet.

something waterproof like that scrap of linolium would be good. Even one of those plastic mats that they used to put in offices under rolling desk chairs -- or a couple of them if you could find them for cheap. --

If your shed is really big -- and you decide on 'deep litter' -- you could get a giant box -- like an appliance box -- and put in a lot of shavings -- and pick up the worst with a poop scoop - like for kitty litter (I use two of them like salad tongs to pick up stray dropping ) -- and investingate poop boards -- and look into PDZ on the poop boards.....

If you get a big appliance box and cut it down...just plan to get another one from time to time -- a store that sells refrigerators, washing machines etc. would probably be a good source for you-- then at some point just toss the cardboard and replace.

Best of luck with your progress!
frow.gif
 
To cover the floor will take a lot of cardboard. That cardboard will eventually get wet and soggy and cause problem when shoveling with the shovel digging in and tearing it up. Eventually it will be a soggy mess that you'll need to remove and dispose of. If you could find a remnant of linoleum flooring that might work better.

Ed

x2

I've tried cardboard in the bottom of a brooder and it got wet and soggy very quickly, and that was even after doing a complete change out of all the shavings once per week.

Try the linoleum, or you could also use a coat or two of Blackjack 57, which is like a roof coating used to waterproof roofs. It creates a good barrier, but isn't slippery like linoleum. This is actually what I have on my coop floor and poop boards. I then add a layer of shavings to the floors and a layer of PDZ to the poop boards.
 
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Here is the best article (and I think the first one) about how to use PDZ and take a look at TheSpoiledChicken's gorgeous coop.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/621363/poop-board-convert-warning-graphic-gross-poop-pictures

ETA- I used cardboard in my first brooder for the 4-weeks - it was the bottom of a box that had flaps up about 4" on the sides and I had about 3" to 4" of pine shavings in there....I acatually used the same box for a couple of broods -- before I moved on -- so if the shavings are deep enough and they are not able to spill their water in the shavings....(like the water is high on some pavers or something)....you may get some mileage out of cardboard. :O)
 
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Here is the best article (and I think the first one) about how to use PDZ and take a look at TheSpoiledChicken's gorgeous coop.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/621363/poop-board-convert-warning-graphic-gross-poop-pictures

ETA- I used cardboard in my first brooder for the 4-weeks - it was the bottom of a box that had flaps up about 4" on the sides and I had about 3" to 4" of pine shavings in there....I acatually used the same box for a couple of broods -- before I moved on -- so if the shavings are deep enough and they are not able to spill their water in the shavings....(like the water is high on some pavers or something)....you may get some mileage out of cardboard. :O)

Yes. I was the spilled water that really did my cardboard in. I tried elevating it and then eventually hanging it, but could not keep things dry enough.
 
Yes. I was the spilled water that really did my cardboard in. I tried elevating it and then eventually hanging it, but could not keep things dry enough.
water in the brooders is the worst -

In mine when they get a bit older -- they kick up the shavings and the shavings go into the water and absorb it all.

When they are cute little fluff balls in the plastic tub I use for a brooder, I put in paper - paper towels or a friend has got me started using puppy training pads -- and as long as there is nothing they can mess up the water with -- all is good.

By week 3, I am so eager to get them out of the brooder, and the water doesn't seem to last 15 minutes before they gets shavings in it -- if I have switched from paper to shavings by that time...... makes me crazy.
barnie.gif
 
Thanks everyone! I figured it wouldn't be a great choice. What about painting the wood with an enamel paint? I'm going to look into the PDZ as well. The coop is about 80sf.
 
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Having a raised platform to set waterer on helps keep bedding out of water. Use a large shallow plastic flat bottom bin upside down. Put the stuff you use to line shelves of camper to make non skid and waterer on that.

How many birds are you putting into how big an area? The waterer has biggest potential for making a mess. The nipple waterers on a five gallon bucket do a pretty good job not making a mess.

Better than shavings or chips for me is peat moss. It is amazing and never any nasty smell. About once a week I throw a little grain on floor and let them turn the accumulated manure.
 

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