Bedding? Yes? No?

[RRM]

Big fan of sand in the coop, it sucks the moisture out of the poop pretty quick and makes cleanup really easy using a kitty litter scoop.
Need to get the openings fixed first though, critter-proofing your coop is more important than coop litter at this stage of the game, then you can do the litter you chose to put down.

 

[GEHIAE]

I'll get some pics up later.
I had a suggestion of fake grass. Would that work?

 

[GEHIAE]

I filled some gaps at my coop and run roofline where it was impossible to close off at the corrugations of the tin roof. I used Great Stuff expanding foam, in a black color so it wouldn't show up (it's usually pale yellow). I was concerned about mice and snakes because the gaps were 3/4"-1". I don't know if you can use it where the chickens could potentially peck at it - they can't reach it where I put it. It's a little tricky to work with because it continues to expand for several minutes until it cures. Where it ballooned out significantly, I was easily able to cut it off flush with a serrated knife. But definitely no more gaps.

Thanks. I might try a thing called No Gaps.

 

[GEHIAE]

 

[black_cat]

I don't think that you're going to have an issue with too much bedding coming out through those cracks, but I can definitely see predators getting in...I think that getting some sort of sealant would solve both problems and work out well.

 

[Flockincrazy]

Hi there!

I am in the process of building a pen for my future girls. It is almost done but it has just dawned on me that I might need litter/bedding in the house bit.
I've built a chook house where they will roost and nest and then attached is a dirt/grass run. The house bit is on a concrete slab. Will I need bedding of some sort in there? Or will it be fine on its own?
Welcome to all ideas!
I'm from down under so it doesn't get too cold.

Thank you so much!

You will need some kind of bedding so that there eggs don't crack when they lay them straw is your best bet and mine think it is comfy

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'd attach hardware cloth around the perimeter of the coop and apron it out, that should protect from any pest issues and will help a little with keeping your litter in.

You can see mine here screwed to the base of the coop (in my case, it's to keep critters from trying to crawl under the space).

 

[Alaskan]

I'd attach hardware cloth around the perimeter of the coop and apron it out, that should protect from any pest issues and will help a little with keeping your litter in.

You can see mine here screwed to the base of the coop (in my case, it's to keep critters from trying to crawl under the space).

View attachment 2229076

I second this idea. It shouldn't be to hard to do on your coop.

And @GEHIAE Great looking coop

 

[RRM]

Looking at your interior picture of the gap between the slab and the siding, it appears you could install treated 2x4’s along the bottom of the interior to close it up.

 

[GEHIAE]

Looking at your interior picture of the gap between the slab and the siding, it appears you could install treated 2x4’s along the bottom of the interior to close it up.

Yes, I am looking into that