Advice needed for coop w/gravel floor

[legacyln]

My husband set me up a temporary coop w/an 8x10 metal shed. We're cutting in windows, a pop door etc, and if we end up having to use it thru the winter we'll insulate it. (We can't build the real poultry/goat barn till our other house sells -- major bummer). But here's the problem: the metal shed has no floor and sits on a bed of gravel. It is anchored down, and I'm going to pile some of the jillions of huge rocks we have around here around the edges to discourage digging. I was planning to use the deep litter method. I thought the best thing under the circumstances might be to put down a big plastic dropcloth and pile on 6 inches of pine shavings to start with. Any suggestions or advice?

 

[Dawn419]

Quote:
I think this will work just fine!


Dawn

 

[BaronRenfrew]

If you put deep litter than you can put something solid but not permanent for a floor. How about big patio stones over the gravel and under the litter.

 

[patandchickens]

My suspicion is that they will eventually, and possibly real soon, dig little pits in the deep litter and their toes will scratch the tarp into a million pieces. Is there anything else you could use, e.g. big square pavers or plywood or even a vinyl flooring remnant. The latter, because it could not be affixed without gaps, would occasionally need to be removed and nasty stuff shovelled out from underneath. Actually what would be perfect would be horse stall mats, but they are expensive and I don't suppose you know anyone trying to get rid of a few?

If you had to use the tarp with litter on it, though, I don't think that anything really awful would happen without notice. So you could just keep an eye on it for evidence of digging/shredding and kind of manage things from there if it does develop.

Good luck,

Pat

 

[LynneP]

Putting a large piece of 1/2" mason cloth might serve you better, being careful to anchor the edges so nothing can break in from below. You could take this wire with you when you move.

 

[Winter]

This might be silly, but what's wrong with the gravel as-is? Growing up our coop had a gravel floor and the shavings went right on top of that.....
Just curious.

 

[legacyln]

I think in a year or two when the girls move up to the "big barn" we're going to use this as a garden shed and I figured up to a year or 2 of deep litter method really gunk-ify he gravel!

I am concerned about the predators too... I am considering getting 5 or 6 bags of quick concrete and just slathering the gravel pad with that.....

 

[KerriAnn00]

I know this is an old thread, but I am having the same questions on building my coop on a gravel floor in the corner of our carport turned barn. Do I have to worry about predators digging through a foot of gravel, even with the sides all metal walled in and anchored down? If so, what's the best option to reinforce the floor to keep them safe?