Coop floor suggestions?

[ShellyP]

Jack, could you tell me how long it takes for the coating to dry? I had vinyl in my coop but as others have said, it didn't last long. So I plan to use the roof coat on the floors and possibly poop board. But I need the hens to be able to get back into the house at night. Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

[RJSorensen]

If you used Blackjack #57 from Lowes. it took about 3 days before I would walk on it. You could wait as long as you can and just cover it with plastic and pine shavings deep enough to keep the birds from sliding. It is some what tacky for quite some time, it is not paint, it is roof goop, it is ok for it to be tacky and a dose of pine shavings will cure the sticky part. It will never be shinny black, but then it is a floor.

You need to stir the stuff with a 3/4 inch and a mortar mixer paddle. Folks not getting it shook up properly is always the issue with this in a bird keeper environment. If you want to use this product, and you should, it has to be stirred/mixed like it is in a blender, a hole going top to bottom and for a few minutes. After this, it is bullet proof, not mixing it up well enough will lead to problems such as the one noted above.

Best to you and your birds,

RJ

 

[JackE]

Jack, could you tell me how long it takes for the coating to dry? I had vinyl in my coop but as others have said, it didn't last long. So I plan to use the roof coat on the floors and possibly poop board. But I need the hens to be able to get back into the house at night. Thanks for any help you can offer.

I would think temp and humidity would have a lot to do with it, as with any other paint type product. When I put the stuff down in my coop, it was around 70, with no real humidity to talk of, and it was dry within 24hrs. And I mean dry, no tackiness, good to go. I don't know if I would have put chickens on it before 24hrs though.

 

[Syphr15]

So, once Blackjack is cured after 3-4 days, is it paintable? I want to lighten up the inside of the coop, don't like black.

 

[JackE]

So, once Blackjack is cured after 3-4 days, is it paintable? I want to lighten up the inside of the coop, don't like black.

The Blackjack goes on the floor. It will be covered with whatever bedding you are going to use in the coop. It will not even be seen. Don't use it to paint the walls. Use regular latex paint for the walls. And no, I would not try painting over the Blackjack.

 

[RJSorensen]

Blackjack is liquid rubber and even though it stays in place, it is not solid enough to hold a coat of paint. As noted above the coop 'litter' will cover the floor and you will not even know what is down there. Fresh pine shavings make a nice light floor and smell good as well.



This is a recent view of my floor after one year. Black is the new black…

Best to you and your birds,

RJ

 

[Latestarter]

Holy COW! That's your COOP?

Before I saw the chickens and shavings in there I thought it was your living room!

Those are some spoiled chickens for sure! LOL

I'm not Jack, but will share my 2 cents worth. When I put mine down, it was in the low 70s and a rain shower passed through right after I finished, leaving a water puddle on one section. It didn't make a lick of difference and once the puddle dried up the coating was fine. The entire surface dried in 4-5 hours, and I put the chickens in there the next day. No muss, no fuss. As already stated, painting over it is not recommended.

 

[Syphr15]

Thanks guys!

 

[RJSorensen]

Yes, that is the new coop which doubles as the winter coop. I like a tight building for getting through the coldest part of winter, we see -20 often and diesel gelling -40 every 15 or so years. I don't use heat, have a nice ventilation setup and with me and the birds in there, we are able to get by ok. I am retired, and have the time to sit and visit with my birds. The coop is more so for my comfort, I don't think the birds care… It is a bucket list reward for surviving my working years.

Best to you and your birds,

RJ





An August view of my winter coop, and the Mrs. I don't have a run, we are able to free range 360 days a year.

 

[jjw33]

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