Building a Coop on a Concrete Slab

[TeachAtHome]

Our backyard has a concrete slab approximately 8x10 in size. This was left by a previous owner, most likely a shed location. I think it would be a nice spot to build a nice sizable coop, however my husband disagrees. He says that we cannot build a chicken coop on concrete.

Is this correct? Is there any way to make this work?

 

[wholehearted]

We built our last coop on an existing concrete slab. Is there specific reason he feels you can't build a coop on it?

For bedding, I used several inches of pine shavings over the concrete and just did a cleanout twice a year. It worked very well....now that we've moved, I am sad that we won't be able to build our next coop on slab due to zoning regulations. Concrete is very secure against digging predators and super easy to clean/wash.

 

[TeachAtHome]

We built our last coop on an existing concrete slab. Is there specific reason he feels you can't build a coop on it?

For bedding, I used several inches of pine shavings over the concrete and just did a cleanout twice a year. It worked very well....now that we've moved, I am sad that we won't be able to build our next coop on slab due to zoning regulations. Concrete is very secure against digging predators and super easy to clean/wash.

He makes a good point that they are scavenging animals and like to peck at the ground and feed off what is there. I was wondering if there was some sort of (easy to clean) bedding I could use to mimic a more natural habitat.

I just think it's a good (wasted) space that I would like to use and am hoping there is a way!

 

[wholehearted]

He makes a good point that they are scavenging animals and like to peck at the ground and feed off what is there. I was wondering if there was some sort of (easy to clean) bedding I could use to mimic a more natural habitat.

I just think it's a good (wasted) space that I would like to use and am hoping there is a way!

That is true. I guess it may somewhat depend on how much time they will be in the coop and/or how much other space they have to explore. Our chickens seemed content to scratch and peck through the pine shavings in the coop when they were inside. In the winter, I would throw down scratch for them to search for. Overall, they still preferred the outdoors and chose to spend most of their time there except in the most extreme weather....but I think that would be true no matter what kind of coop floor we had!

Maybe someone else with other floor experience will chime in!

 

[TeachAtHome]

That is true. I guess it may somewhat depend on how much time they will be in the coop and/or how much other space they have to explore. Our chickens seemed content to scratch and peck through the pine shavings in the coop when they were inside. In the winter, I would throw down scratch for them to search for. Overall, they still preferred the outdoors and chose to spend most of their time there except in the most extreme weather....but I think that would be true no matter what kind of coop floor we had!

Maybe someone else with other floor experience will chime in!

I think that's what I am going to tell my husband. I think the concrete would also provide more protection for them against predators. We have plenty of wood shavings left over from the girls' playground. I actually think it would be pretty nice.

 

[tbiM20]

What about coop 100% on slab, but having the run include ground as well as the rest of the slab area?

Would free ranging give the access to ground your hubby wants?

Making the bedding extra-deep? A 2x6 around the bottom would be an easy addition for deep bedding. Or if you really want to get involved, a row of cinder blocks around the perimeter to create a 100% secure "garden bed" out of the area (just add dirt!)

There was a thread I read on this site about putting your compost pile IN your chicken coop so they could dig through it.

Lots of options!