Coop floor - dirt versus vinyl or rhino coat

[corbyjames]

We are building are first coop and one of the first questions is what to use for the floor. The coop I grew up with in Montana was an old log cabin on top of dirt. I remember it being a pain to clean. I've seen several designs where folks are putting linoleum or vinyl down on top of a wood floor. I've also seen some coops where they have used rhino coat for the same purpose. The idea is that you can just sweep them out.

The current parameters on the coop are:

8x12 structure
Building will look like an old log cabin
If a dirt floor we will build a cement / rock exterior foundation otherwise we will put it up on a pier and beam wood base floor
The structure will be inside a sealed aviary. We live in Austin, Tx and have every known chicken predator on our property.
We currently have 8 chicks, but plan to max out around 10.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

Don't use lanoleum! I have a trailer coop and wanted a lanoleum floor because I was worried about the wood rotting, well I don't think that lanoleum lasted 4 months! My hens scratched it to peices around the pop door, water got trapped under there from a good rain, and I had to rip it all up. I spent so much time and money laying that stupid lanoleum, it just makes so mad

. But I thought you should know so you don't have to learn the hard way like I did.
In my old stationary coop, I had a concrete floor and I LOVED it. It was so easy to clean and keep clean. I hope others can give you some better advice than I can.

 

[nwtim]

Vinyl flooring covered with pine shavings on top of plywood has worked great for us and our 4 hens haven't messed with it at all (about 1 year so far). Maybe we've been more fortunate than others.

 

[JackE]

Linolium and vinyl will break down over time, and it can be a relatively short time. As it breaks down, moisture WILL get under it and can do damage to a wooden floor. Paint is OK, but it really doesn't seal the gap where the walls meet the floor. I would not use caulk, because as it ages, it starts to come loose, and as was mentioned, the chickens WILL notice and try to eat it. What I use, and IMO, it is THE best cover and protector of a chicken coop floor, Is a rubberized roof coat product I got from LOWES (Blackjack #57). This is the stuff used to seal roofs. If it can stand up to 4 seasons of all kinds of weather on a roof, from super cold to blazing heat, protecting a chicken coop floor is nothing to this stuff. It totally seals the floor gaps, and the gap where the walls meet the floor with a coat of rubber. The gap where the walls meet the floor is where insect pests like to hang out. They can't do it when the gap is sealed shut. And it is NOT slippery.
I have had this product on my coop's floor for over 2yrs, and it looks as good as the day I put it down, although I only get a look at it twice a year when I clean out and replace all the bedding/shavings. To apply, I just dumped a big dollop on the floor and pushed it around with a roller. I applied a heavy coat to the whole floor. If I wanted to, I could fill my coop with an inch or so of water. You want the BEST floor cover/protector, This is the way to go.
Jack

 

[corbyjames]

Thanks all for the feedback. I think we will go with the Lowes product Jack. Did you also look at Rhino coat?

 

[JackE]

Thanks all for the feedback. I think we will go with the Lowes product Jack. Did you also look at Rhino coat?

I did not even look at it, But I'll bet it cost more. Specialized products for vehicles always do.
Jack

 

[1muttsfan]

I have a raised coop with a wooden floor covered with vinyl flooring, works great (3 years) and if covered adequately with shavings the chickens to not bother it. If there is enough moisture to damage the floor your bedding is too wet, it should not be moist enough to lead to moisture damage underneath the vinyl.

 

[JackE]

Unless you have a sealed box, rain has been known to blow into a chicken coop if you are not home to close windows, and/or vent openings. I know it does in mine, but I don't have to worry about it. Another problem with vinyl is that it is easily damaged. I empty/clean out my coop with an old coal shovel. I move as fast as I can, cause I don't want to be doing it for long. With vinyl, I would have to be kinda careful to not tear or gouge it. I gouged a vinyl floor in an old house of mine just moving a refrigerator. With the roof coat, I think I'd have to take an ax to it, to cause damage. One good thing about vinyl though, you can pick from all kinds of pretty patterns to floor your coop with.
Jack

 

[mythreechicks]

Linolium and vinyl will break down over time, and it can be a relatively short time. As it breaks down, moisture WILL get under it and can do damage to a wooden floor. Paint is OK, but it really doesn't seal the gap where the walls meet the floor. I would not use caulk, because as it ages, it starts to come loose, and as was mentioned, the chickens WILL notice and try to eat it. What I use, and IMO, it is THE best cover and protector of a chicken coop floor, Is a rubberized roof coat product I got from LOWES (Blackjack #57). This is the stuff used to seal roofs. If it can stand up to 4 seasons of all kinds of weather on a roof, from super cold to blazing heat, protecting a chicken coop floor is nothing to this stuff. It totally seals the floor gaps, and the gap where the walls meet the floor with a coat of rubber. The gap where the walls meet the floor is where insect pests like to hang out. They can't do it when the gap is sealed shut. And it is NOT slippery.
I have had this product on my coop's floor for over 2yrs, and it looks as good as the day I put it down, although I only get a look at it twice a year when I clean out and replace all the bedding/shavings. To apply, I just dumped a big dollop on the floor and pushed it around with a roller. I applied a heavy coat to the whole floor. If I wanted to, I could fill my coop with an inch or so of water. You want the BEST floor cover/protector, This is the way to go.
Jack

What is it made of? I want to have my floor as natural as possible as I will be using the compost in my vegetable garden. I do not want chemicals in my garden from composting on top of a harmful substance.

 

[mythreechicks]

Linolium and vinyl will break down over time, and it can be a relatively short time. As it breaks down, moisture WILL get under it and can do damage to a wooden floor. Paint is OK, but it really doesn't seal the gap where the walls meet the floor. I would not use caulk, because as it ages, it starts to come loose, and as was mentioned, the chickens WILL notice and try to eat it. What I use, and IMO, it is THE best cover and protector of a chicken coop floor, Is a rubberized roof coat product I got from LOWES (Blackjack #57). This is the stuff used to seal roofs. If it can stand up to 4 seasons of all kinds of weather on a roof, from super cold to blazing heat, protecting a chicken coop floor is nothing to this stuff. It totally seals the floor gaps, and the gap where the walls meet the floor with a coat of rubber. The gap where the walls meet the floor is where insect pests like to hang out. They can't do it when the gap is sealed shut. And it is NOT slippery.
I have had this product on my coop's floor for over 2yrs, and it looks as good as the day I put it down, although I only get a look at it twice a year when I clean out and replace all the bedding/shavings. To apply, I just dumped a big dollop on the floor and pushed it around with a roller. I applied a heavy coat to the whole floor. If I wanted to, I could fill my coop with an inch or so of water. You want the BEST floor cover/protector, This is the way to go.
Jack

What is it made of? I want to have my floor as natural as possible as I will be using the compost in my vegetable garden. I do not want chemicals in my garden from composting on top of a harmful substance.