First time chicken virgin - finished a coop - can y'all help me for a

[tomasko]

Super helpful comments from everyone...and I am learning a ton by reading random threads. I am happy with what we built, it seems the coop has most of the features needed. Good ventilation (soffit vents running 46-inches along each side) and a roost area with poop board.

Question - I put left over vinyl tiles on the poop deck, but have done no treatment on the primary floor of the coop...should it be covered with anything? Paint or flooring?

How deep should the litter (straw or wood shavings) be on the floor?

I know so many rookie questions from an utter stanger...but that is what we are here for.

Thankls

 

[CityChook]

hey rookie - we like to help!

I painted my floor since I already had the paint (ie: free). The floor doesn't really show after you put down shavings, but having something on the floor will help deter mites and also creates a barrier in case your water gets spilled, which eventually it will. Prime first, paint at least 2-3 coats and allow to dry completely before adding shavings/chickens. BTW, you don't HAVE to do anything to the floor. It's just that sealing it will make it substantially easier to clean later down the road, and we all like EASIER, right?

Beginning deep litter should be 4ish inches deep. In the summer, I add more shavings maybe once a month or so, like an inch or less -- the chooks are outside most of the time anyways. In the winter, however, when they're inside almost exclusively, and it's cold, I fill shavings 6ish inches in the fall and keep adding until Spring. Sometimes it can be as deep as 9-10 inches by the time I clean it out in April. Toss them every other week or so to keep them fluffy and fresh and they'll easily last 6-9 months for you.