Coop Bedding/Litter

[Leonard4]

Hi all. Newbie here! Just moving my chicks to the coop tomorrow. I'm planning on using the excess pine bedding I have left over until it runs out. The coop floor is just plywood. I've read of people putting linoleum flooring on top of the plywood, then using some sort of bedding. Is this recommended instead of just using bare wood and bedding?

I've also read straw isn't a good, and that sand or sawdust is better than pine. Can anyone give advice? We have 4 chickens, if that makes a difference.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I think it is a good idea to put linoleum down, that will prevent any moisture from going into the plywood and creating mold. I have about 2 inches of sand on top of that. I clean the inside of the coop every morning, so I just scoop out the poop that has fallen on the floor, But I also have a poop board under the roost and that catches any of their poop while they are sleeping. I also have vinyl on top of the poop board and I put a couple layers of newspaper on top of that so in the morning I just roll it up and it is perfectly clean in less than a minute!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

How large is your coop and how do you access it for cleaning? How often do you want/plan to clean? There is no one right choice, but some are better fits for different setups.

 

[Perris]

I'd add lino too on the plywood, to make it easier to clean as well as keep it dry, and I wouldn't use sawdust (it can cause respiratory issues) - use shavings instead.

 

[LJoWilly]

I put about 4 coats of paint on every square inch of the inside of my coop before I put my chickens in it. I can say that it has made scrubbing wood surfaces more easy, plus as someone said, it helps that mites have nowhere to hide in painted wood. Then I used pine shavings from a local Farm store. I just recently switched to hemp bedding, and I am completely sold on this stuff. If you do decide to put linoleum on the floor, I would still suggest that you paint everything else, if possible.

 

[LJoWilly]

May I ask what type paint did you use for the inside, that's chicken safe? Thanks.

I can't remember the brand name, but it was for Porches and Decks, I believe.
Not sure if they actually make a paint that's listed as "chicken safe," but I can only tell you from experience that all 6 of my girls have lived in that coop since 2016 with no problems. Maybe, it's because I painted it well in advance before ever putting chickens in it?
1st pic was May 20th 2016.
2nd pic February 1st of 2018.
3rd pic was March of this year.

 

[Chickylove12]

I think linol is wise for cleaning. I am even going to use the sticky linol tiles on the walls. My non chicken friend was trying to tell me that it's not necessary...just to paint it. But seriously wetting wood on the inside during a good scrub down..not smart. Plus I think it will help prevent mites from living in the wood.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

My coop is not a walk in one, although you can climb in it. I have linolium down and will be using all purpose sand for the coop floor and shavings for the nesting boxes.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

I put about 4 coats of paint on every square inch of the inside of my coop before I put my chickens in it. I can say that it has made scrubbing wood surfaces more easy, plus as someone said, it helps that mites have nowhere to hide in painted wood. Then I used pine shavings from a local Farm store. I just recently switched to hemp bedding, and I am completely sold on this stuff. If you do decide to put linoleum on the floor, I would still suggest that you paint everything else, if possible.

May I ask what type paint did you use for the inside, that's chicken safe? Thanks.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

I can't remember the brand name, but it was for Porches and Decks, I believe.
Not sure if they actually make a paint that's listed as "chicken safe," but I can only tell you from experience that all 6 of my girls have lived in that coop since 2016 with no problems. Maybe, it's because I painted it well in advance before ever putting chickens in it?
1st pic was May 20th 2016.
2nd pic February 1st of 2018.
3rd pic was March of this year.

Ok great. My mom gave me Behr premium paint which I used on the outside so far, wasn't sure I could use it inside too. Thanks.
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