coop floor - laminate?

[HC7]

My coop has laminate flooring. Should I cover the whole floor with sand, shavings, etc.? Or should I build a little shelf under the roosting bars to catch the bulk?

 

[nuthatched]

You should cover the floor to provide a cushion for them to jump down on.

 

[aart]

My coop has laminate flooring. Should I cover the whole floor with sand, shavings, etc.? Or should I build a little shelf under the roosting bars to catch the bulk?

I do both.

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.
-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.
- Large flake pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.
- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.
-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 10+ years.

 

[HC7]

I do both.

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.
-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.
- Large flake pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.
- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.
-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 10+ years.

Thank you! That's very helpful!

 

[pollos_hermanos]

Is is laminate or linoleum? sheet linoleum/vinyl can be sprayed down, but laminate it extremely sensitive to moisture and will buckle and swell causing mold and other issues. If it’s laminate plank, I’d pull it out

 

[HC7]

Is is laminate or linoleum? sheet linoleum/vinyl can be sprayed down, but laminate it extremely sensitive to moisture and will buckle and swell causing mold and other issues. If it’s laminate plank, I’d pull it out

It's a sheet.