What is the best flooring to use in a run. Not smelly, easy to clean and one that chickens don't min

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lachie27

lachie27

In the Brooder
Apr 18, 2015
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I've read lots of threads about which type of flooring I should use in my chicken coop run. It is going to be 3m wide and 6m long so I want something that is easy to clean like concrete. I've heard that concrete does not give underneath the chickens feet so then I thought of putting some sand on top of the dirt. I've heard this will not get smelly but not sure if it is easy to clean. I've thought of concreting it and then placing straw or pine shavings on the floor but I think this might get costly. Overall I just need someone to please tell me what is the best flooring for my coop that does not get smelly, is easy to clean, and most of all easy on the chickens.
 
Welcome! Good drainage is most important, especially if it's not roofed, and a dig proof perimeter. Then dirt, sand, or concrete. Mine is an old broken-up concrete slab, with shavings, hay, or whatever on top. It turns into compost, and gets shoveled out once or twice a year. Sand is pretty, but many people who use it are cleaning it out daily, it seems. Clay soil will turn into smelly muck without drainage and deep bedding on top. Leaves, wood chips, or shavings are good. Straw is much harder to manage than shavings! Sawdust is too fine. Mary
 
I use sand. It is SO easy to maintain. It stays dry when wet, it repels flies because it has little if any organic material in it, the sand naturally absorbs the poop and it's smells and best of all you can wet it down in the summer heat and it keeps the birds really cool. Like the sand at the beach, it is cool below the surface. Get all your sand wet and turn it over and you have a very cool floor. Chickens lose heat through their feet. Keep the feet cool and you have cooler birds. You can get cleaned sand at some hardware stores, some sand and gravel companies will deliver sand to your door, you an even dig it out of river beds or dry washes if you live out west.
 

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