coop flooring

[chachie]

Hello,

I'm looking at building a coop and was considering using old pallets as a subfloor and screwing plywood on top. I figured this would make it easy to clean/shovel out when the time comes. Now after reading a number of posts I see it's more or less 50/50 when it comes to flooring. Some go the wood/linoleum route, some go with a dirt floor .

A dirt floor with shavings or straw would certainly be easier and cheaper at first but my concerns come with cleaning and predators.

Would the hens not dig holes making it tricky to clean? I can twist an ankle in some of the holes they currently dig in our backyard.

It would seem that it would be easy for something from outside to dig underneath and get into the coop and after the hens. Would I need to bury a wire mesh along the outer perimeter?

I'd like to hear your thoughts and with hindsight being 20/20 what, if anything, you wish you would have done instead.

Thanks

 

[Chickenshoe]

I think you have answered your own questions... linoleum on plywood is simple to clean, button up floor to pallets, barrier from predators, no digging...

 

[chachie]

Thanks for the reply. Should I insulate the floors or is straw enough to keep them warm in winter? I'm planning on insulating the walls.

 

[Chickenshoe]

wood chips/shavings, id recommend over straw...either would work, insulation, more important is ventilation make sure there's no drafts..-cold air blowing directly on the birds...winter=more straw.. you will be fine