Coop floor idea....

[AudieWarren]

As of now we have a dirt floor in our coop. They are free range and don't spend a lot of time in there. It's basically just for roosting, laying, and if they want to eat out the feeder. I've been stewing on a way to get a quicker clean up. Raking out coops with 3 littles is definitely entertaining to say the least. I came across an article about a concrete/cement floor. That seems like a great place to start. A strong nozzle and bam poop is gone. Being frugal and resourceful I want to use what I have around the house. I have a butt load of brick pavers. I'm thinking this my be the solution I need. Just curious, has anyone done a concrete or brick floor.?

 

[DobieLover]

As of now we have a dirt floor in our coop. They are free range and don't spend a lot of time in there. It's basically just for roosting, laying, and if they want to eat out the feeder. I've been stewing on a way to get a quicker clean up. Raking out coops with 3 littles is definitely entertaining to say the least. I came across an article about a concrete/cement floor. That seems like a great place to start. A strong nozzle and bam poop is gone. Being frugal and resourceful I want to use what I have around the house. I have a butt load of brick pavers. I'm thinking this my be the solution I need. Just curious, has anyone done a concrete or brick floor.?

Have you looked into using the deep litter method (DLM)? There is a host of information on it both here on BYC and elsewhere on the internet. Research has shown it actually produces healthier birds with stronger immune systems. You only have to clean the coop out once or twice a year. And it is very well suited for dirt floors but is not absolutely necessary.
That is how I started my coop out. My birds have been using their coop for nearly 10 weeks and I have no odor problems, no fly problems and the litter is nice and dry and low dust (I use hemp bedding for my litter). I have a raised floor coop with vinyl tile over painted plywood floor. I currently have about 6" of hemp bedding. Just stir the bedding every other day and you're done. I do scrape off the roost too then mix the litter.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

A concrete floor is an injury waiting to happen to me, and moisture in the coop... absolutely NOT... in my experience.

I have brick pavers under "semi" deep litter. I use droppings boards under roost that I clean off with a flat shovel once a week or every two weeks. I freshen hay or shaving as needed depending on stock load and weather, just sprinkling a little on top of wet droppings. I don't keep my feeder or water inside the coop, let them poop outside as often as possible.

 

[AudieWarren]

My coop is very open so moisture wouldn't be a problem. They rarely spend time in there since they have 4 acres all to themselves to forage. The feeder is in the coop to keep the goat out of it....doesn't always work... Nifty little feller. Anyway, I'm trying to not do a litter bc my kids may or may not try to dig in it.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Just leave it as bare sand and rake when enough poop accumulates.....?

 

[AudieWarren]

Just leave it as bare sand and rake when enough poop accumulates.....?

That's what I do. I was looking for a faster way to clean. Having a bunch of Littles "trying to help" while I'm raking is a struggle sometimes. I was hoping to lighten the load and head from others who have done the same.

 

[RustyBucketFarmGirl]

As of now we have a dirt floor in our coop. They are free range and don't spend a lot of time in there. It's basically just for roosting, laying, and if they want to eat out the feeder. I've been stewing on a way to get a quicker clean up. Raking out coops with 3 littles is definitely entertaining to say the least. I came across an article about a concrete/cement floor. That seems like a great place to start. A strong nozzle and bam poop is gone. Being frugal and resourceful I want to use what I have around the house. I have a butt load of brick pavers. I'm thinking this my be the solution I need. Just curious, has anyone done a concrete or brick floor.?

I imagine that power washing a dirt floor would have a similar effect. May be a bit muddier for a minute but if you choose a nice dry few days is may give you a similar result without causing any extra work for you. Unless the goal is that you do not like the dirt floor. My flock prefers dirt and mulched areas and has yet to step foot in concrete.

 

[RustyBucketFarmGirl]

That's what I do. I was looking for a faster way to clean. Having a bunch of Littles "trying to help" while I'm raking is a struggle sometimes. I was hoping to lighten the load and head from others who have done the same.

Running a little mantis rototiller through the dirt may also prove beneficial for renewing and refreshing the earth.

 

[aart]

Water plus poop equals stink.

 

[nminusyplusm]

I’d use whatever time and energy you normally spend coop cleaning and devote it to keeping the kids out of the coop (high latch on the people door?) and go with deep litter. You literally wouldn’t have to clean at all ever, just harvest compost when you want.