Cement floor in run?

[lichick28]

We just bought an old farm house with a coop (wood floor) already there & I want to build a run that is fox proof. I was thinking of a cement floor so they cant dig under. I would throw dirt onto it for scratching & dust bathing. Does any one have a cement floor and what are the pros/cons for this idea?

 

[patandchickens]

The biggest con is the COST. Second biggest con is that the chickens don't especially like it, as they cannot scratch and dig.

If you already *had* a slab, that you were forced to use as your run, I would say sure go for it. Some of my runs are on slab, for exactly that reason, and with sufficient extra footing chucked in there (I use old leaves, poor hay, nontoxic garden weedings, etc) it is okay. 6-18+" of sand or roadbase would be even better, but for a non-roofed slab run you may have a good bit of fine-tuning to do if you want to get sand/roadbase/shavings/mulch to stay in place rather than floating/washing off in heavy rains. Fibrous organic stuff stays put better. (I periodically rake it out and replace it).

Unless you have a MEGA problem with rats or other digging predators, though, I do not think I would suggest you deliberately *build* a slab-floored run. It is not hard to digproof a run by laying down a 2-3' wide apron of heavy gauge galvanized wire, firmly attached to the base of the run fence. You can cover it with something, or let the grass grow up through it, or flip the turf back and put it under the turf, or whatever you want. Or you can dig it in at least 12-18" deep, but IMO an apron is just as good and a lot easier. This will not stop rats, but very little will.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[lichick28]

My biggest problems are the fox. The previous owner had fox problems & just gave up with chickens. I am only making it approx. 6x8 run. I thought about then putting dirt on top of the cement. They would have full range of the yard (4acres) when I'm out there with them. The cost of cement I will get wholesale

 

[patandchickens]

Well, foxes for sure won't dig through concrete

-- but they won't go through a 3-4' wire apron (if properly built) either.

Dirt will wash off your slab. Something coarser-grained, like sand or roadbase, will wash off less, and if you put grade boards all around (taller then the sand depth -remember chickens will pile it up against hte edges) with landscape fabric covering otherwise looseish seams and maybe some additional drainage holes, you can arrange it so the stuff will *mostly* stay in place.

A wide strong apron would be my choice, though.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[cindyschicks]

I have an old chicken coop that has cement floors inside but runs built off the back that are fence enclosed, all sides, top and bottom. Have absolutely no problem with predators at all and there is still dirt for the chickens and ducks to enjoy.

 

[Jx2inNC]

Personally, I would probably use $4 80# bags of Quikrete around the edges and areas you are worried about before I would concrete the whole area.

 

[lichick28]

That's also an idea! I am not familiar with foxes & their digging habits. About how wide & deep do you think I should make this quikrete border around the run? can you pour quikrete on dirt or should I get some type of gravel first & then pour the quikrete using 2x4's to make my straight line.

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

Quote:
Rather then a slab, do a cement foundation.
Dig a trench, use forms and pour concrete. You can insert poles as needed for the fence in the concrete as well.
I would not do a full slab, because you want the chickens to have dirt to play and scratch in.
And, if its possible, maybe make a double run, so that one side can rest and grow green stuff while they are in the other side.

 

[Jx2inNC]

Quote:
You could pour the Quikrete around or in between the posts.
I suppose it depends on how "sure" you want to be, but I would think 12" would be plenty suffice, if you were going straight down. On the other hand, you might accomplish as much (or better?) pouring it only 4" deep or so, but making it extend 12" from the coop. Likely the same amount of material just horizontal versus vertical.

The reason I mention this is that vertically the just have to dig to the bottom, but like an apron of wire does, horizontally isn't something an animal would tend to think about. I don't see a fox backing up 12" to begin his dig (especially when the concrete is covered with a layer of dirt). He would likely see he can't go straight down and quit.
Unless you're gone for long periods of time, I don't see an animal accomplishing this feat easily without you noticing before they can get it done.

And yes, you can pour Quikrete straight on dirt. This is all I did pouring it in around my posts in the ground.
The nice thing about it is you can just buy the 80# bags for cheap, pour the material on the ground, then pour water liberally over top of it and let it set up. No real need to go to the trouble of mixing in a wheelbarrow or such, like you would normally do.
I would say about 24-48 hours maximum and it is completely good to go.
If you have time, try a small area and see what you think.

 

[patandchickens]

I would be cautious about doing a cement 'foundation' around the run. You would be perilously close to creating a bathtub. On nearly pure sand this might work out ok, but elsewhere I think you would find yourself in big mud trouble real quick.

Also if you're going to be digging that far down (and I would not go any less than 18" if you know you have a fox problem, personally I'd want more like 2' deep) then why bother with the cement, just dig in wire. WHich will work about as well and *not* court mud problems.

If you have a source of LARGE (like at least 18x24") inexpensive pavers, you could use those to make an apron, just set them well onto flattened ground all around the run, making sure there is no gap between them and the base of the run fence.

It is POSSIBLE that, if you have enough experience with concrete, you could rig up a similar arrangement with some concrete reinforcing mesh and concrete, poured a couple inches thick on the surface of the ground (with the reinforcing mesh ending up embedded in the concrete), to make a 3-4' wide concrete apron. It would crack in places, but as long as large pieces did not fracture off in a way that a fox could dig them away, it'd work as well as a wide paver apron, and not cause too much in the way of drainage problems. I do not think that your average inexperienced person could necessarily do a satisfactory job of this, though - I would hesitate to try it myself (and believe me I've thought of it, as I have some fences I'm trying to coyoteproof for sheep) because I have a feeling my results would not be sufficiently good or durable.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat