Barn question

[thebirdguy]

I am in the process of planning/getting bids for a barn and am debating on whether to use a concrete floor on the indoor portion of the bird runs inside the barn. They would only be in the barn during the winter and would have access to an outdoor run as well..

Or should I keep the floor in the barn dirt and do a gravel base with sand on top, deep litter or something else?

All opinions will be valued higher than the price paid for them..

 

[TruGritCkn]

I do not know, maybe use stall mats. The concrete seems to me it would be easier to keep a cleaner environment. If you are going to put in concrete you could ad a drain and then hose the stall out now and then to clean it.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I don't think you need to even bother with the gravel as long as it's not getting wet in the barn. I put some heavy sand in there. They'll eventually scratch down to the dirt and they'll love discovering it! You may need to add a 1/2 yard every year or two because you'll lose some raking it out and from them throwing it around. Sounds like you're going to have a great set up.

 

[AK Michelle]

Shawn I wrestled with this too. In the end I went with the cement floor for a couple of reasons, first and foremost was safety. With our ground it would be nearly impossible to dig down and bury wire to make it dig-proof. Unfortunately the wildlife seems to have no problem burrowing through this ground

The second reason I chose to do the cement floor is because I am getting heat, water and electric out there and I thought a bare ground would allow the frost and cold to push up through the ground into the coop.

I have a layer of Styrofoam insulation below the pad, and skirting the perimeter of the pad at and angle to help deflect the frost away from the slab. The barn will not be warm, we are going to keep it just around freezing, any warmer and the birds will be shocked going in and out in the winter.

And yes, I do have a floor drain. You would have to check your local ordinance but I was able to do a gray water system. That is a leach field without a septic tank. But because there is no tank and no oil separator I cannot park equipment in there or pour any chemicals down the drain. It is for washing hands and dishes only (and the ocassional pasty butt) Nothing can go down the drain that isn't already laying on the ground.

I don't know what your cold range is, we generally run from -10F to -35F in the winter. And once the snow melts there is plenty of standing water till the ice goes out of the ground. Another reason for the slab, keep the birds out of the breakup floods.

Good luck,
M