Are there any cons against dirt floors?

[Lothiriel]

With 26 chicks coming in the mail next Wednesday, we need to build a new coop, as our current coop is only 8x8. Lots of research has been done about floors, and we're kinda leaning towards just dirt. BUT... it's always good to ask questions.

Are there any cons about them?

With 36 chickens in the coop over the summer (I've got 9 already), there will be lots of poop too. So will that pose a problem with parasites/worms?

Our winters here get pretty cold (sometimes below 0*F). Will the floor freeze? (Though I'm pretty sure I'd put down hay/wood shavings during the colder months.)

So if anybody has like a comprehensive list of the pros and cons of a dirt floor, I'd love to see it. And just any basic preferences, likes/dislikes, etc. Thank you guys!!

 

[columbiacritter]

My only issue with bare dirt is the predators digging up through the floor. My coop has hardware cloth on the floor and one morning I actually found where a coon was still trying to get through it after digging in from under the far side. Chickens were scared to death but at least were up on their roosts. I whink the ducks would have been up there too if they could have.

 

[patandchickens]

Sure, everything has its downside

-- dirt floors are not as easily sanitized if you have disease; unlike a raised floor they are prone to flooding unless you are on VERY high and dry ground; moisture from the ground can wick up thru the bedding and make the coop chronically damp; and (biggest issue, IMO) they require extra predatorproofing so that predators don't dig in, and even normal digproofing still is likely not to keep out rats and mice (which are nearly impossible TO keep out with a dirt floor, as opposed to with a slab or raised wooden floor).

By no means am I against dirt floors -- they have their advantages too, such as being cheap

and providing useful thermal mass --- it's just that you asked for disadvantages so that's what I've listed

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Tala]

I have a dirt floor, here is my list

Pros:
Cheap & easy of course
I use pine pellet bedding (that turns to sawdust) and it self-composts in the deep litter style using moisture from the ground
It's no big deal if it gets wet (PT wood is spendy) -- NOTE my coop is open air, it dries out fast so moisture is not a huge problem for me
I like not having to "step up" into the coop - it's ground level.

Cons:
When the neighbor's yard floods, it comes in under the coop walls and washes part of my sawdust away, so yes flooding is an issue that I'm working to resolve
It can stay damp when it rains for long periods, which is a big issue unless you have TONS of ventilation --- but I'm pretty much immune to that because it's never any worse damp in my coop than it is outside

We use a wire "skirt" to raccoon/dog dig proof our coop, and we don't have a rat or mouse issue so I don't have anything to add to that.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

I sure hope not!! All 6 of my coops have dirt floors.

 

[Lady~Araucana]

we also have a dirt floor, we actually like it. We use staw as a thick litter and when it needs cleanign we scoop it out with a shovel and put more down.

 

[Lothiriel]

Quote:
Is your hardware cloth buried on the floor or is it just on top? How deep is it buried along the sides?

Thank you all for your replies. It's very helpful.

Our property doesn't flood, so that won't be a problem. Mice and rats I don't think have ever bothered our coop right now but definitely they can't be ruled out... I know there's a bunny living underneath it though.

 

[Menmyrc]

When we built our coop, we used staples (the heavy guage "U" shaped ones you hammer in, not what you hold papers together with) to attach the hardware cloth at the base of the framing of the coop. Then when we placed the siding over the framing, the hardware cloth was sandwiched between making sure that some of the nails securing the siding also went through the hardware cloth for extra security. We dug a shallow (maybe 4") trench 2' wide all around the coop. The hardware cloth went down the 4" and then it goes out away from the coop from there creating an apron. We chose to place it underground like that so that 1) it looks nicer 2) less chance of a stray corner folding up and catching someone's foot. We plan to plant some shallow-rooted plants over it as well. You don't have to do this - you can use landscape stakes to hold it in. We also felt like with our light sandy soils (I'm in AZ) the landscape stakes might be easily pulled up. I know others have dug a trench 2' down to put the hardware cloth down in vertically, but that was too much work for me!

 

[fargosmom]

Don't know if this is practical in your case but if you can, add a layer of a few inches of sand over the dirt - it will make it much much easier to clean up (you can use a rake or kitty-litter-sifter to scoop the poops), it helps to keep the hens' feet clean and it might help with humidity issues . . . we have it in our run and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Quote:
Is your hardware cloth buried on the floor or is it just on top? How deep is it buried along the sides?

Thank you all for your replies. It's very helpful.

Our property doesn't flood, so that won't be a problem. Mice and rats I don't think have ever bothered our coop right now but definitely they can't be ruled out... I know there's a bunny living underneath it though.

The apron/skirt around my coop is actually attached to the coop frame under the walls. No critter is going to pull that off with out a crowbar or an electric screwdriver!! I've had mice get in, but the chickens usually eat them. Only thing they didn't eat was a big rat snake that was eating the eggs.