Coop Floor Dilemma

[Tesumph]

Go with option 3 and don’t over complicate things. Unfortunately hubby is right. It is very easy to get discouraged with all the conflicting information, a dozen people will tell you a dozen different ways to do one thing! In the end it really does work itself out.
Don’t try and dig down under the coop/run—I promise you that that is way more work than it sounds with not nearly enough benefit. Stick with your gut! Go with deep litter method with a foot deep hardware cloth trench OR apron around the outside. IMHO, they are equally beneficial and it is up to what you can physically do with your set-up and/or aesthetics.

Rats are not that big of a problem. Keep in mind that when you read horror story threads, you’re reading a small percentage of negative experiences instead of the vast majority of people who had no problem at all. And if you do get rats, no problem! Start taking up food at night and more than half the battle is won.

I was in the same boat as you two months ago and almost gave up on chickens entirely because I kept getting so discouraged. Well hey, I didn’t give up and now I have 8 beautiful little chicks to call my own. Stick with it, it’s an awesome hobby and definitely worth it.
And by the way, those dimensions are more than enough for 5 chickens, and if you’re partially free ranging then it’s out of the question.

 

[Sagey_7878]

Yes to all - My run will be enclosed. I am worried about the coop floor. I was planning for an apron of hardware cloth. I can trench, too. Is that enough? Or should I put hardware cloth UNDER the coop, buried several inches (maybe 18 or 24) under the dirt?

You can bury it under the coop if you want, I say yes due to your predators.

 

[Sagey_7878]

Go with option 3 and don’t over complicate things. Unfortunately hubby is right. It is very easy to get discouraged with all the conflicting information, a dozen people will tell you a dozen different ways to do one thing! In the end it really does work itself out.
Don’t try and dig down under the coop/run—I promise you that that is way more work than it sounds with not nearly enough benefit. Stick with your gut! Go with deep litter method with a foot deep hardware cloth trench OR apron around the outside. IMHO, they are equally beneficial and it is up to what you can physically do with your set-up and/or aesthetics.

Rats are not that big of a problem. Keep in mind that when you read horror story threads, you’re reading a small percentage of negative experiences instead of the vast majority of people who had no problem at all. And if you do get rats, no problem! Start taking up food at night and more than half the battle is won.

I was in the same boat as you two months ago and almost gave up on chickens entirely because I kept getting so discouraged. Well hey, I didn’t give up and now I have 8 beautiful little chicks to call my own. Stick with it, it’s an awesome hobby and definitely worth it.
And by the way, those dimensions are more than enough for 5 chickens, and if you’re partially free ranging then it’s out of the question.

Could you please check out my recent post on if my space is enough?

 

[booth2010]

I just thought of an option 4 that may work for you, you will still lose a little head room but its kind of a meet in the middle. Put the hardware cloth directly on the current ground level, put up 1x6 PT wood around the perimeter of the coop and fill it with sand. Kind of like creating a sandbox within the coop. You now have the dirt floor, no added cost except for the hardware cloth on the bottom and the 1x6" perimeter boards to keep the sand in and it will keep the predators out.

 

[snow5164]

I am now thinking I will not get chickens. There is too much conflicting information, and I don't think there is enough I can do.

I researched for a year before building ..... it’s not a race , build it well and when you’re happy with it ... order your chicks .

They are well worth the time and effort , but please don’t rushgood luck

 

[Tesumph]

Could you please check out my recent post on if my space is enough?

Yep, plenty.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Gahh! I have spent months coming up with a design based off BYC posts, but I keep hearing that I am wrong and inviting a whole host of problems.

I can't do 1200 sq ft (I'm jealous, booth2010!). I can probably do maybe 96-100, but that is asking a lot of my yard. My neighbors have more chickens in smaller set-ups and haven't had problems. I have one neighbor who free ranges 100% of the time (no coop, even) and hasn't lost any to predators. I thought if I did the hardware cloth apron around the coop and the run (as suggested by many on BYC) it'd suffice. And I keep an organic garden, so I liked the idea of the DLM on a bare dirt floor. But that will allow rats and weasels in...

I should also mention that I have a dog. She's not a Great Pyrenees or anything cool like that. She's a doxie, and an excellent ratter. And squirreller. And snaker. And she took out an opossum a couple of years ago (scariest thing I've seen in a while). And I have 2 cats. One is useless, but the other is pretty darn fierce - I once saw him snatch a pigeon out of midair. He's kind of a geezer now, but still gifts me lizards and mice.

I'm sorry to be such a Debbie Downer... I just want to do everything correctly, and I am exhausted at the moment (just returned from Vietnam on Monday - severe jet lag!). I am overreacting.

I need some coffee.......

 

[Dancing With Chickens]

Hi, there. I am building a coop for a chicken-filled future. I have read just about every BYC thread dealing with coop floors, have taken into consideration many contributors' suggestions and advice, viewed hundreds (probably thousands) of images of coops and runs... I didn't want to start a new thread without first doing my due diligence, but despite my best efforts at self-edification, I still can't make a decision about the coop floor. I'd appreciate some feedback, if you are so inclined...

Background info:

• My coop will be 4' x 8' for 4 (maybe 5) hens
• Run will be 8' x 8'
• The ladies will free range part of every day and most weekends
• It will be a walk in coop
• I wanted a dirt floor for compost via the DLM
• I live in Northern California in a semi-rural area; won't be a problem keeping things dry here
• I've got raccoons, skunks, opossum, owls, hawks, rats, mice
• Got enough hardware cloth for an apron around the whole perimeter

After reading, I am now worried about rats. I still want a dirt floor, but don't want rats in my coop.

Some things I've considered:
1) Raising the coop a bit, putting in a floor, laying linoleum or applying a water-proofing membrane, attempt a modified DLM
Pros: Increased critter fortification
Cons: Cost, more work/time, higher profile that might annoy the neighbors, losing the dirt floor

2) Burying hardware cloth under the coop (not the run) and burying it beneath enough dirt that I can still enjoy a dirt floor
Pros: I still get a dirt floor, increased critter fortification
Cons: Lotsa work/time, cost, not sure how long the hardware cloth will hold up and maintain efficacy

3) I've become paranoid and need to just go with my original plan
Pros: I don't have to spend any more money than I already have, I get the dirt floor I want, DLM is good to go
Cons: Possible lost sleep over critter concerns, having to admit hubby is right about the paranoia thing

Good gravy.
I am a hot mess.


Help a girl out? What should I do? I'm starting to build THIS MORNING!!!! T minus 3 hours and counting..........

I suggest making the coop a little bigger. Remember, chickens are literally the most addictave creatures EVER! LOL! I made the mistake of making my first coop smaller, so I'm going all out a redoing a shed. Since you have so many predators, here's my suggestion:

• Make sure the coop floor is against the ground.It'll be perfect for you walk-in idea!
• Use wood on the floor and cover it with straw or pine shavings. Rats cant' get through the wood. It could be pallets stacked next to each other or wood boards. Straw and pine shavings make better bedding for the bottom of your coop, and if you have a run, they'll still get a bunch of dirt, especially if they free range. Straw makes a great bedding use for the Deep Litter Method and you can compost it. It also traps in heat easier.
• Make sure you have the latches out of reach of predators and use predator proof latches, especially if you have raccoons!
• Dirt will be harder to clean if it is a bedding

I hope my advice helps! This is what I've learned over past chicken coops.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I just thought of an option 4 that may work for you, you will still lose a little head room but its kind of a meet in the middle. Put the hardware cloth directly on the current ground level, put up 1x6 PT wood around the perimeter of the coop and fill it with sand. Kind of like creating a sandbox within the coop. You now have the dirt floor, no added cost except for the hardware cloth on the bottom and the 1x6" perimeter boards to keep the sand in and it will keep the predators out.

That might be doable.

 

[Dancing With Chickens]

I had considered this, but I worry the wood would rot. So I would have to raise it, which might make it too tall. I am thinking no chickens for me, at this point. Too much conflicting information, and I feel mighty stoopidd.

I don't think it will rot if it doesn't get wet