Coop Floors - Can they be cement?

[bobbyacker]

Can the floor of my coop be cement if I have plenty of pine shavings on top of it?
The area where my coop is is too wet and the chickens are sinking in the mud.
Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Bobby Acker

 

[Mahonri]

I have TWO 4X10 pens with cement floors. We don't sweep and mop it every week like we do with the large 8X10 coop that has a linoleum floor, but we do put down DE with pine shavings over the top and they both work out well for us. We clean and sweep at least once a month and it's an easy clean...

 

[patandchickens]

Oh absolutely!

Cement is a GREAT floor for indoors in the coop (obviously, "with enough bedding on it").

It is less ideal for the run but is doable there too (some of my runs are on slab, just b/c of existing slabs there) as long as you put a THICK layer of stuff on it, although outdoors you would not want to use shavings (will be too wet and mucky, also blow away a lot), sand or coarse organic material would be better outdoors.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[bobbyacker]

Ok Mahonri, whats DE?

And where can I get it?

Thanks, Bobby

 

[mallory2013]

Quote:
DE is diatomaceous earth

. It is a natural pesticide and insecticide. You can get it at feed stores or at your local co-op. Make sure you get the food grade, not the pool filter kind! Hope this helps

 

[mallory2013]

Oh and

 

[anniejs]

First winter with chickens and hubby doesn't have coop done. Our chickens are in a dog kennel placed on the corner of an unused concrete basketball court. All is fine except when it rains the water is running into the kennel. Is there a way to divert the water or some type of dam to lay around the kennel to keep the water out without ruining the surface of the cement? What if I tried to raise the floor, maybe use a mat of some sort, maybe a horse barn floor mat? Would that work with chickens and cover it with straw or shavings?