we are going to be building a 4x8 coop that opens up to a 10x20 area for them to go into then when they want. when we are out back in the yard we will open the door so they can use the hole fenced back yard. we are trying to figure out if we should leave the bottom of there coop dirt or put shaving or something else in the bottom or put a wooden floor and something on top of that. any ideas of what to do will be a great help. this is going to be are first try at a coop. thanks ryan
We have a similar setup. I turned an old gardening shed into their coop and fenced in a section of the yard for their run. The bottom of the coop is wood and I usually leave a layer of straw or shavings on the bottom because it is easier to clean up the poop that way. Poop tends to solidify to the wood and can get hard to wash out. I have also read that people line the floor with linolenum so they can wash it out. If you leave it dirt just remember that chickens like to dig (at least mine do) so you will have to fill in holes.
