I have an 8x4 coop that my chicks are in right now (six 15 week olds and six 11 week olds). It's kinda cramped, so I was considering moving some to the building attached to the coop...it's about the same size, maybe a tad bigger. Here's a pic...looks a lot different now, cuz I fixed up the coop and it has an attached run...this pic was taken before we bought the property:
The building with the two windows is what I'm talking about. It will give them more room...I may even just cut a doorway in the wall that separates the two parts. Dunno yet...other things to decide at the moment.
Here's my dilemma. The floor is NASTY. It's a particle board floor with old linoleum covering it. The linoleum is rolled at the edges with mouse nests in it. Here's some pics:
I plan on replacing the linoleum when I can afford it...but for now I need to keep it. So far what I've done is pull the linoleum out (it wasn't attached to the floor), and I plan on laying it flat on the ground and scrubbing the heck out of it and letting it air dry. What I discovered once I exposed the base floor is moisture around the perimeter in some spots, and lots and lots of bugs and mildew/mold. I shop vac'd the floor and now I need help to decide what to do so my chicks don't get sick.
Do I spray the floor and walls with bleach? If so, do I use straight bleach or diluted bleach? If it's diluted, what is the ratio? Afterwards (if this is what I should do, and once it's dry), I plan on putting down a layer of diatomaceous earth, then putting the linoleum back down, then another layer of DE, then the pine shavings.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
The building with the two windows is what I'm talking about. It will give them more room...I may even just cut a doorway in the wall that separates the two parts. Dunno yet...other things to decide at the moment.
Here's my dilemma. The floor is NASTY. It's a particle board floor with old linoleum covering it. The linoleum is rolled at the edges with mouse nests in it. Here's some pics:
I plan on replacing the linoleum when I can afford it...but for now I need to keep it. So far what I've done is pull the linoleum out (it wasn't attached to the floor), and I plan on laying it flat on the ground and scrubbing the heck out of it and letting it air dry. What I discovered once I exposed the base floor is moisture around the perimeter in some spots, and lots and lots of bugs and mildew/mold. I shop vac'd the floor and now I need help to decide what to do so my chicks don't get sick.
Do I spray the floor and walls with bleach? If so, do I use straight bleach or diluted bleach? If it's diluted, what is the ratio? Afterwards (if this is what I should do, and once it's dry), I plan on putting down a layer of diatomaceous earth, then putting the linoleum back down, then another layer of DE, then the pine shavings.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
