floor or no floor in a walk in coop? why or why not?

[chelsey21211]

All opinions very much needed and appreciated!

 

[Greanleef1]

Floor... preferrably because they can exit easier, lay eggs, and be broody

 

[chelsey21211]

Any other opinions?? Il be finishing up the coop this weekend and am still undecided :/

 

[ShayBaby]

We're going with no floor in the 8x12 we're building now for two main reasons: 1) cheap and 2) easy. LOL. There's also a good deal of mice around here and I'm hoping no floor will give them nothing to hide under and thus keep them out. I'm sure there's plenty of pros and cons both ways. I'm curious to hear others' opinions, as well.

 

[swede-murphy]

Floor. High and dry, easier to clean, easier to keep predators and mice out.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Dirt floors cost nothing and last FOREVER!!

 

[BridgeMan]

I'm presently building our first coop, and started installing the 3/4" pine flooring today. Am using salvage book shelving material, 18" wide and 48" long. Will cover it with a piece of scrap vinyl, before the wood chips go in. My coop is a raised affair, 2' off the ground, so the solid floor was a necessity. I'm using either mesh or field fencing to enclose the under-coop area, providing a secure area for the chicks until they are large enough not to fit through the chain link openings in the pen area. Bought some lexan today too, for the coop's skylights--the girls will have natural light during the day, and lots of ventilation with the screened circular vents I also picked up. Found a great deal on Craigslist for some salvage chain link fencing--$30 for a 45' run of 6' tall fencing. Just need to find some cheap posts, a few affordable gates, and a few grunts to help me dig lots of holes and batch lots of concrete.

 

[Bens-Hens]

I have done a few modifications to our coop since it started out. Low roosting bars over cement slabs (pavers) was the easiest to clean and check 'poo health'

BUT

the whole coop was low, and hard to move about. I raised it higher on legs with no floor, not sure if our chickens were scared of not floor, but they did not seem so keen on roosting, they would try sleep in their nest boxes.

I have almost finished a 3/4 floor modification, includes sides to keep bedding in and one side that is hinged to drop down to make cleaning easier. We plan on using white playground sand to begin with under the roosts, and hay in the nesting boxes.

Here are a couple of pics of where it sort of is now. Our current flock of chicks is due to move in soon.

It's since had a bit of paint thrown around to seal the timber and make it easier to clean. Just needs a second coat. (and I mowed my lawns hahahaha)





The nesting boxes, roosts, barn doors and floor is all new.




I am hoping this gives the best of both worlds, easy cleaning, yet private and protected from the elements. We don't get snow here, but it does get hot, so the second barrier of the floor will be good in the hotter months.

Maybe you could do the same. When I first made this, I had a half floor on a timbre pallet, was good enough but hard to clean, and a hiding sport for bugs, which the girls loved at clean out time.

 

[4 the Birds]

Floor. High and dry, easier to clean, easier to keep predators and mice out.

+1

After the heavy rains that we just had, my coop floor would be a muddy mess if it did not have a raised wood floor! Chickens scratch down through floor bedding to whatever is below. If that is dirt and it gets wet then it is a mess. A quick floor or raised area can be made with plywood on wood pallets. Hope this helps!

 

[chelsey21211]

Bens-Hens, that is brilliant! Very nice set up there! Thanks for sharing!