Coop and Run done!...Run floor vs Coop floor question. Pics

[kptwin]

Just needs painting! Yay!

DO I NEED SHAVINGS ON FLOOR OF COOP?I know I need them in the nesting boxes. They are closed off for a bit as they needed encouragement to roost.

CAN I DEEP BED RUN AND NOT COOP?

My coop has pine shavings and a floor with 1/2 inch hardware cloth. The coop is raised and the poop and shavings drop into the run with a little encouragement from flat edge of a rake. The run is 14 feet, covered and I have 5 chickens. We have mild weather and the run has remained dry. When I research the deep bed method, I seem to only find reference to coop maintenance.I am obviously new to chickens and am loving them! Note by Boxer to left who remains undecided.

 

[sourland]

How mild are your winters?

 

[kptwin]

Average temp November-January and March in the Mid 50's.
Average rainfall for those months is 2.5-3.5 inches per month. Pretty sporadic and fare "downpour".
Our February temperature seems consistently higher in the mid 60s-70 annually.

 

[sourland]

You might consider cutting a piece of plywood to fit on the floor of the coop that you could introduce if necessary. I would not put bedding on the wire floor.

 

[orpington13]

We use hay as insulation if it gets to cold.

 

[kptwin]

Thank you! They don't seem to mind the wire, so that is a good thing!

 

[orpington13]

Just as a side note however, the hay works as an okay insulator, but it may be hard to clean.

 

[kptwin]

Just as a side note however, the hay works as an okay insulator, but it may be hard to clean.

I am now only using pine shavings in nesting boxes. They seem to be doing well. Thanks!