Concrete in a coop?

[Aubske]

Hi there! We are going to be using a stall in our barn for our chickens and are trying to decide if concrete is the way to go. We have heard it absorbs odors but a way to avoid that is to do the continual laying of bedding and only cleaning it out twice a year or so. Just looking for some advice! The chickens free range, so they will be able to be in dirt and such. Thanks for any help!

 

[perkolator]

With a simple baffle of some sort to keep it deep, you should be totally fine in a concrete stall

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC. Where, in general, are you located? Climate matters, especially in re: chicken housing, so we can give better advice when we know what your conditions are likely to be.

Is the concrete already there?

If so, working with what you've got is probably better than trying to break it up and remove it.

Do you have a preexisting severe rodent problem? If so, concrete is one of the good ways to prevent rodents from accessing the coop.

If the floor is not already concrete and you don't already have a rodent problem I wouldn't pour concrete. Dirt floor under a thick layer of bedding can be a very successful manure management system.

 

[Aubske]

Welcome to BYC. Where, in general, are you located? Climate matters, especially in re: chicken housing, so we can give better advice when we know what your conditions are likely to be.

Is the concrete already there?

If so, working with what you've got is probably better than trying to break it up and remove it.

Do you have a preexisting severe rodent problem? If so, concrete is one of the good ways to prevent rodents from accessing the coop.

If the floor is not already concrete and you don't already have a rodent problem I wouldn't pour concrete. Dirt floor under a thick layer of bedding can be a very successful manure management system.

We live in Ohio. The concrete is not currently there, we would be adding it. Thought it would help with clean out. Don't have a rodent problem...some mice here and there, but nothing major.
When doing the thick layer of bedding how often do you recommend cleaning the coop out!

 

[3KillerBs]

I wrote an article on using Deep Bedding, which can go quite a long time without cleaning.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/using-deep-bedding-in-a-small-coop.76343/

I go 8-12 weeks with 5 hens in a coop built for 4 (4x4x4), in a very mild climate where they are never confined inside. Exactly how long depends on the weather and other circumstances. Some people go longer with a larger coop that allows bedding to build up thicker than I can or a light chicken density for the size.