Dirt Floor?

[mossy_oak23]

ok cool. does it matter how fine it is? For example if it is literally dust?

 

[mossy_oak23]

any one else have experience with relatively fine saw dust being used in a coop on the floor?

 

[chickenbottom]

i have a dirt floor and i dont put anything down just whats in there i shovel it once a month and put new dirt down.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I am not sure about sawdust. If it is fresh then it will be moist as well. You can start with a layer of that and add more shavings on top that are drier. I know when we clean out the old shavings, which are about the consistency of dust by then, the dirt floor is wet underneath. But not soggy. I like to let it air dry for a few days before I add more shavings but the chickens go to town digging up the floor too much.
A huge farm to run and play on and they like to hang out and destroy the coop. Heathens!

 

[mossy_oak23]

if i put saw dust down as a bedding/floor material won't it get all in there waterer which is on the floor as well?

 

[mossy_oak23]

im going to be heading out to put the saw dust on the floor soon but i need to know if it will get kicked into my gravity waterer? it is just a metal tin on the floor with a ribbed edge that forms a dish. If you for see this as a problem how can I get around it?

 

[Blue_Myst]

I feel your pain! My soil has horrible drainage, and my coop was literally flooded anytime it rained. I put a few bags of sand in, though, and it cleared right up!

It was still damp, but not nearly to the extent before. If you can get sand for a descent price, I'd give it a shot, even if you get just enough to mix in with the soil.

With the waterer, you'll have to try it out and see, though I can guarantee anything less than four inches above the ground will get swamped with whatever you put on the floor. If you get bedding in the waterer, perhaps you could put a short cinder block or some other object to elevate it a few inches?

 

[mossy_oak23]

Quote:
good idea with the cinder block i will give it a try. i put the saw dust in and they were actually afraid of it. They flew right from the front door to the roost when they came in for the night. Usually they hop in and run across the dirt floor. It is dry and warm in there now but I just know that saw dust will end up being trouble as far as messes go.

 

[jwchicklady]

Don't use saw dust! I have read that it is too fine and can cause respiratory problems in chickens. Pine shavings work very well.

 

[keepmumsane]

hi , i have a dirt floor.. i tried straw but when it rained and it was like a swamp in there.. now i have dug out that mess .. and use sawdust... well not dust but stuff from the local mill.. and they have dry feet and Love to flick it around

the straw was a huge error of judgement and it was so slimey and foul ..smelt like a mushroom farm! ick!

will get some sand now too.. like that plan thanks!