Dirt floor in hen house.. Terrible idea?

[verlaj]

We had a dirt floor until this summer when we topped it off with several inches of sand. Rented a trencher when we constructed the coop 7+ years ago - dug out narrow trenches about 1 ft deep and put pressure-treated plywood down, then backfilled with dirt and built up from that. The plywood is still there doing its job. Added sand this year because the dirt floor level had gradually fallen and did not drain well. In the winter (dry season here) I used to add pine shavings on top of the dirt, but not in the wet summers. Our coop has open sides all around - only chicken wire over wood framing, no solid walls, to allow good ventilation, but lots of rain blows in. I don't think I would change anything about the floor in my environment.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Me too, and I agree. I have used hay, pine shavings, and even mostly left it bare. It is the usual floor where I live.

 

[alanb]

CHICK ; Chickens love dirt , and need it for cleanup !! Any prediters you have that want to dig under , Mostly skuck's in my area are going to dig under anyway . The first time just cover there track . They will come right back the second night !! BE there with 410.0 !!!

 

[osagebill88]

We have a dirt floor..but the walls of my coop set on 4 feet of rock and cement. If something is to dig under or through that I dont want any part of that critter. I like dirt floors. They soak in some of the stuff as well.

 

[fadetopurple]

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[darkmatter]

Quote:
I have not had anything dig under the brick foundation into the coop, when first built, I made the mistake of using window screen wire for the vents under the eaves. A raccoon has no problem ripping window screen and pulling a full grown chicken through a 3 1/2 " opening. I've since used metal vents. My run is too large to economically cover with wire, besides the 30 foot plus mature mulberry trees in the yard. A raccoon can climb over the 6 1/2 fence if it wanted to, but they normally operate at night when the coop is buttoned up anyway. There is a trap I keep just for the masked raiders. A fox can go over a 3 to 4 foot fence like it wasn't there, but I have not yet seen one make it over my 6 foot fence. I suppose a hawk may be able to take a chicken, but other then one incident a few years ago, I've not had a repeat predation by hawk----the chickens learned to cower under the trees or return to the coop when something flies overhead----even when it's just a harmless buzzard. Anyway, you should factor in that something will prey on your flock and you should raise a few extra to account for normal losses.

 

[CHIC]

WOW, I was really not wanting to think I would even wanna lose one chicken EVER! I guess that life though. I just figured out that I am going to have to put wire over the top because it is being built below a structure that has stairs to the top. Something could just climb the stairs and jump right in! There are so many factors to think about! I am, however, going to have a dirt floor. Thanks everyone for relieving my tension about that!