Brick flooring in the coop?

[hypnofrogstevie]

I seen someone use cement. We have billions of bricks in our backyard. Would it work to keep away rats and other things? Thank you for any advice

 

[patandchickens]

If you've never laid pavers, be aware it is sloooow and obnooooxious, and if you want to do it in a way that will produce flat and durable results, it can get a little $pendy too.

You need to bed the pavers on at least several inches of hard-compacted screenings topped with sand (which need to be bought, wheelbarrowed in, spread, and the screenings need to be repeatedly run over with a vibrating compactor that you rent, then brush more sand on), or else the result will be loose, wibbly, and very quickly start heaving and sagging and bricks coming loose all whichway.

A *properly* laid brick-paver floor would probably be ok, but not nearly as good as concrete. I can tell you from horse barns that it is really really hard to get caked-on Stuff outta the fine cracks between pavers (bricks). And I can also tell you that rats (not mice) CAN EASILY come up thru a brick paver floor.

Personally I would not bother. Or if you really really really want to spend the money and time, and want the hard floor, do it instead with 16" square concrete pavers. The prep and process are the same, but you end up with many fewer cracks between pavers to collect crud, and they are a bit more rat resistant.


Pat

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

I might as well put down the leftover plywood with some straw. Gotta figure out what to do with those bricks.

 

[countryboy]

you could use the bricks to wall the coop or make a wind screen (or wind break) for the coop.

 

[patandchickens]

I'd be really really cautious about using bricks to make a wall more than a couple feet high. It takes proper bricklaying skills and proper design to ensure it will not sit there harmless-looking for a while and then fall over SPLAT squashing chickens or bystanders. They can do that.

If you don't have a use for the bricks why not freecycle them or see if you can get someone to pay a little $$ for them.

Pat

 

[countryboy]

patandchickens is right if you haven't tackled mortaring before you might be better off selling them and getting more chickens or other things.

 

[Charlie Chicken]

My favorite coop flooring is good old fashion earth with deep litter on top. A dirt floor is easy to install, (it's already there) doesn't rot, is easy to clean add the price is right. ($0.00)

 

[whereswaldo]

I tell you what. Now days it doesnt matter if you have done it 30 times or once.
The best part about making chicken coops is its YOUR DESIGN not theirs.
Bricks work well as a floor when covered with 1-2 inches of shavings. makes an easy clean up...and brings an old fashoned look.
I'v layed plenty of brick in my life and still am. Mt next chicken house (Not brick but cinderblock) is going to have Block walls and cement floor with tin roof.
I can do the walls and floor all concrete and block for under 1000.00 To have a brick mason do it...try 1700.00
Practice with some small areas...for a chicken coop it doesnt have to be perfect. get some good sand and spread it and pack it with a simple 1x3ft piece of ply wood, then mortor it up and go slow and do your best. then send me some wonderful fpictures of the finished project
How big is your coop floor?

 

[quailboy02]

Hi,

Yes brick flooring could be beneficial especially if you have multiple bricks it could be cost effective. I made my first coop with brick flooring and it turned out fine. You might need some information on laying brick pavers though. They have some tutorials on brickflooring.org it might help.

 

[Chicken lady88]

Hi,

Yes brick flooring could be beneficial especially if you have multiple bricks it could be cost effective. I made my first coop with brick flooring and it turned out fine. You might need some information on laying brick pavers though. They have some tutorials on brickflooring.org it might help.

Our coop has mesh on the floor, and I usually cover it with 3 inches of pine shavings... however, we have had some water soak up in the shavings last winter. We were thinking of laying a plastic cover over the mesh, then placing pavers over the plastic so that water wouldn't seep in. I will place 3 inches of pine shavings over that... My question is.. Has anyone done this or does it sound like a good idea? Or any other suggestions?
Thank you.