Coop Medium for Concrete Floor

[Ifish]

I am converting the old Milk House attached to the barn into our main chicken coop/hen house. It is cinder block, floor is 2-3 ft below grade, and is a concrete slab. I was thinking of using sand, but with concrete, it can't leach moisture into the soil. Would pine shavings work better to absorb, and cleaning it out once a week be better.

Plan on using a board under the roost area to catch droppings. There will be a run for them, and they will free range when supervised.

 

[Briza]

Do you know what kind of concrete it is? Some concrete is porous and can allow the moisture through.

 

[Ifish]

I do not know. It was poured long ago, we just bought the farm last fall.

As far as the concrete, it appears to be pretty modern. very solid and tight, light gray color. No cracks and is below the frost line.

Being where the milk tank is stored (still today) i'd imagine they would pour a hydraulic safe concrete.

 

[Folly's place]

Sounds wonderful! My coop is on an old building foundation and cracked concrete floor. I added rubber stall mats on one side to make cleaning out easier, and to control moisture wicking up from the ground, and I use baled shavings (horse stall bedding) to make deep bedding. It's cleaned out maybe three or four times per year, and works fine. mary

 

[Ifish]

Thanks. The rubber mats sound like a good idea.

 

[Ifish]

After cleaning the building out, I found 2 drains in the concrete floor. Poured water down them and they drained just fine. Regardless, I decided to put down pine shavings and will probably go deep litter instead of sand. So far it is working out great with the temp roosts. Will be using a poop board under the permanent roosts, and lots of pine shavings on the floor.

 

[TalkALittle]

If you don't need them for drainage, I'd cover the drains so they don't get clogged up with shavings. Working drains would be nice to have for a yearly disinfectant spray out.

 

[Folly's place]

I would definitely cover those drains so they aren't ruined. I've got rubber stall mats over part of my concrete floor and love them. Sheet vinyl would probably work well too; cheaper but less durable. Mary

 

[Ifish]

Thanks guys.

I did pick up some rubber stall mats and put them down under the roosts and over the drains before putting down the pine shavings. I didn't want the drains to clog in case we stop using it for a chicken coop, didn't think about a yearly clean out. Great idea!

 

[aart]

I'd ditto the cover those drains so they don't get clogged with shavings or anything else....they might also be an entrance for rodents if they are 'open to air'.

I think thick layer of shavings is your best bet, especially if your using a poop board.
Putting anything else over the concrete could create an environment for mold/mildew to grow between covering and concrete.

You'll have to see how it does with moisture absorption as to how often you might need to change the shavings out....
......I only need to change mine out 1-2 times year but I have vinyl over wood.

When you do change out the shavings, you can uncovers the drains and 'wash' the floor of needed.