coop floor

[warcard]

Ended up on a new page so adding that I am talking about cedar chips:

The vapors, when concentrated in an enclosed space like a coop, can cause respiratory irritation.

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
Coffee grinds ? You spread the coffee grind in coop over the pine shavings or OUTSIDE in the run area . SO FAR , they still have grass in run area . DO I have to put shavings down in run area also ? WOW , I had no idea

Sorry that did sound funny. All that stuff goes in the compost pile and then to the garden after 30 days.

And no, shavings go into the coop and not the run. At least I don't put any in the run.
Also, if like me you can not afford to put vinyl down I saw a great idea on another BYC thread. Use a tarp. I think they used cup hooks to hold it in place against the walls. Then when you clean just fold the tarp up, wash it off, let it dry and put it back down. When I clean my new coop with the wood floor I am going to try that.

Using a TARP on the floor is a great idea. I have to remember that. THANKS

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
Pine shavings are the best

 

[Kathy1]

Thanks! After reading this thread I think what I will do is cut a piece of plywood to use on the floor for the winter just to raise it a few inches, then I will uses a small tarp with the shavings on top. I have a perch but they dont use it they cuddle together in the nesting box. I have picked them up and placed them on it, but they go back into the box. I guess it is cozy

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
DH happened to hit it lucky . He walked into Home Depot and they had a section for items reduced . The 4x8 sheets of bathroom tile ( used around showers ) were going for 4.00 a sheet . We put this down on top of OSB flooring and covered with pine shavings and its SOOOOOOOOO EASY .

 

[Kathy1]

LOL that was good luck!!Cant beat the price

 

[MsBentleyboy]

I also have a wood floor in my coop. I could not purchase pine shavings in my area and didn't want to have any shipped. So, I use hay and lots of it. As long as it doesn't get wet it's easy to maintain. I keep the waterer on the outside so that keeps spillage down. I rake up the hay about once a month but unless you have a lot of chickens this might be too often.

Good luck and definitely put "something" on your wood floor. Messy feces is hard to get up without scraping it.

 

[hooplehead]

If you use linoleum, do you need to use low VOC glue? I worry about off gassing and the respiratory health of the birds.

Maybe let it sit for a week before putting the birds in?

 

[avanderhule]

I am new to BYC and love it! I have just bought 10 hens, ranging in age from 10 weeks to 5 months. I have a 9x9 square coop that was previously a hot tub gazebo, and coming off of the coop, a 20x15 foot enclosure. Being in AZ, we have the usual ground covering of rock. The rock is small and not real rough, but still, I really want to change it so the ladies have more opportunity to dig and play...they seem a titch bored.

I was wondering if wood chips would be a suitable flooring for the coop as well as the enclosure? In that question are a couple of sub questions: 1) Would I have to purchase said wood chips from a garden center, or would recycled trees from an arborist be acceptable? And secondly, will wood chips harbor smell resulting in more flies, or would it dry nicely as long as I turn it once every couple of weeks or so.

Due to the extreme heat here now, I already spray down their area at least once a day, but if they could dig more easily, I probably wouldn't have to do that.

Any suggestions or assistance is appreciated!

Thanks

 

[KrisRose]

Quote:
I would put pine shavings or equine pellets in coop. When it was hot and dry here (MI)the poop dries fast and you dont have smell/fly problems. I lived in AZ for 10 years and I would think you might have have an issue when humidity spikes, as in August during monsoons. But this would be a minor problem and short lived.
In run I would put sand. Rake up the rock if it is rough. Sores on bottom of feet can lead to Bumblefoot. The sand is great for dust bathing and you can add DE for some mite control.

I am not sure about chips from an arborist. They would have moisture and when piled in shaded corner of run you might have a mold issue (during monsoons?). I guess it would depend on time of year. Perhaps dry them in sun for a few days? Wouldnt hurt to try it out.
I also rototill my run for smell control and they love it when I do that.

I enjoyed living in AZ and really miss it

!

P.S. Welcome to BYC!!