Coop flooring and bedding material.

[Chickenmoms]

I'm working on the coop now. I was thinking of putting vinyl flooring down to protect the wood and then use sand for the bedding material. My concern is the winter (I'm in New England). Not as cold as some areas but it for sure can get chilly here. Can I put pine shavings over the sand in the winter to provide a warmer bedding material?

Would I need to remove the sand in the winter or can I put shavings over it?

Is vinyl (linoleum) flooring a good idea for the bottom? I've read some people say it can make the chickens sick if they peck at it but if it’s completely covered by bedding they shouldn't have access.

I’m in ma and I’m trying to figure it out too. I can’t put poop shoot in.

 

[Littlebitshadow]

I’m in ma and I’m trying to figure it out too. I can’t put poop shoot in.

I ended up putting peel and stick tiles in the coop floor. It’s covered with their bedding right now, which I went with hemp.

In their run I have a combo of sand and hemp, but still trying to figure that out!!

 

[sals_chicks]

I'm working on the coop now. I was thinking of putting vinyl flooring down to protect the wood and then use sand for the bedding material. My concern is the winter (I'm in New England). Not as cold as some areas but it for sure can get chilly here. Can I put pine shavings over the sand in the winter to provide a warmer bedding material?

Would I need to remove the sand in the winter or can I put shavings over it?

Is vinyl (linoleum) flooring a good idea for the bottom? I've read some people say it can make the chickens sick if they peck at it but if its completely covered by bedding they shouldn't have access.

I put vinyl flooring down in my first coop (also in New England) and then used hemp over it, but eventually I ended up cutting the vinyl out, so I say - don't waste your time with it. My main concern was the extra layer that would provide a good place for mites to breed, and I did not want that!

I would just suggest painting the floor with a semigloss to seal the wood off, and just put hemp or pine shavings on it.

 

[Bsmac]

Pine shavings with poop boards works well in our coop! Bedding stays dry and pretty much odor free. I only need to change the shavings 2 or three times a year!