Does the perch area need to have a solid bottom?

[gpeled]

Hi, I am a newbie designing my first coop for the backyard.

I'd like to do deep litter method, and am thinking that even the perch area inside the enclosed coop, would have no solid bottom. Solid bottom would be only in the nesting boxes.

The perch area would be walled off in all 4 directions, with a walkway from the bottom area which is surrounded by hardware mesh.

But it seems all coop designs I look at, do have a solid bottom for the perching area.

So very interested in any thoughts you guys have for/against that option, based on your experience?

My location is San Jose, CA. So thinking that keeping it warm enough would not be an issue.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

If I'm reading this right, your going to have mesh between the perches and the ground? I'm just making sure that your coop isn't completely exposed, and predator proof.

 

[blackdog043]

If your going to have a dirt floor coop and do deep litter, no you do not need anything under the roosting area. You will have to mix the poop in from time to time if the chickens don't do it for you, so it doesn't build up. You could throw scratch to encourage them tho. You will need a wire apron around the whole coop to keep predators out.

 

[gpeled]

If I'm reading this right, your going to have mesh between the perches and the ground? I'm just making sure that your coop isn't completely exposed, and predator proof.

Yup will have a mesh at the bottom, so fully enclosed except for the coop door.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Yup will have a mesh at the bottom, so fully enclosed except for the coop door.

A latchable door?

 

[gpeled]

A latchable door?

The fully enclosed (plywood for higher section, hardware cloth bottom) coop will have one automatic door open only during the day, to the large run area.

 

[nminusyplusm]

It sounds like you're planning on a raised coop as opposed to walk-in, right? Can you make your run completely predator proof? If you can, then you wouldn't need mesh on the bottom of the coop at all which would become messy without litter when poop gets stuck, which it would.

Or else, do a solid bottom with deep litter in the coop and run and an access door from coop to the run so you could just sweep it out into the run every year or two to compost further.

 

[gpeled]

It sounds like you're planning on a raised coop as opposed to walk-in, right? Can you make your run completely predator proof? If you can, then you wouldn't need mesh on the bottom of the coop at all which would become messy without litter when poop gets stuck, which it would.

Or else, do a solid bottom with deep litter in the coop and run and an access door from coop to the run so you could just sweep it out into the run every year or two to compost further.

The run won't be fully predator-safe. Just a fenced off side section of the yard between the house and the yard fence. I get squirrel and rats and possums. Raccoons are a possibility though never seen one in our yard.
My plan for the mesh in the bottom us that it will be under 10" of wood chips, so there's enough composting going on there and not much need of cleaning.

Is there any advantage to a solid bottom under the deep litter?
I thought contact with the soil, so bugs and worms make it into the litter, is a good thing, and that the chickens will keep digging through it.

 

[nminusyplusm]

The run won't be fully predator-safe. Just a fenced off side section of the yard between the house and the yard fence. I get squirrel and rats and possums. Raccoons are a possibility though never seen one in our yard.
My plan for the mesh in the bottom us that it will be under 10" of wood chips, so there's enough composting going on there and not much need of cleaning.

Is there any advantage to a solid bottom under the deep litter?
I thought contact with the soil, so bugs and worms make it into the litter, is a good thing, and that the chickens will keep digging through it.

Yes, there is-- you want a mix of different sized particles in DL so you don't want all the small stuff falling through. If you're planning on DL in the coop AND run I think you're better off with a solid floor.

Usually people use mesh on the floor because they don't want to use litter at all in the coop. In my experience a mesh floor is not a clean floor. My broody breaker cage needs frequent cleaning but my DL coop is pretty much maintenance free.

 

[gpeled]

Yes, there is-- you want a mix of different sized particles in DL so you don't want all the small stuff falling through. If you're planning on DL in the coop AND run I think you're better off with a solid floor.

Usually people use mesh on the floor because they don't want to use litter at all in the coop. In my experience a mesh floor is not a clean floor. My broody breaker cage needs frequent cleaning but my DL coop is pretty much maintenance free.

Curious - why do you say I don't want the small stuff falling through? What I had in mind is that the bottom is essentially a 10" high compost pile which is just protected from predators tunneling in, by a wire mesh of some sort. Earthworms and other bugs going in an out, and chickens digging in as deep as they can through the mesh, and mixing it all up. Are there major flaws with that line of thinking?
Thanks!