Flooring for my Chicken Coop

[Quik1th]

That should be a duh for me, thanks!!!

No worries, I have to scratch my head to get quite a few of them

 

[Jazzmin]

Here are some photos of my coop in the order west, north, east, and south before starting. The existing floor has several cracks in it so that is why I'm re-doing it. I thought I would let the sub-floor "float" over the insulation panels that would be nailed with insulation nails into the floor. I'm not planning on insulating the walls, but I will the door and possibly the ceiling. I also need to add a couple of vents for them. I will be adding an automatic door and they are getting a new roost with poop boards underneath it as well as nest boxes. It is south facing so I would also like to install another window between the full size door and chicken door. I think a screen door inside the existing one would be nice also. There is currently some wiring for electric but it is very old so that is going to be updated this week with a couple of additional outlets.

 

[aart]

Nice little building.
Are the eaves open, or can they be opened, for ventilation?
Have you had chickens in there before?

Not sure what to suggest for the floor, but think your plan is overkill.
Can understand maybe covering or closing the gaps between boards,
especially if you're wanting to use sand,
tho I'm not a fan of sand for a coop floor that large in your climate.
Are there any holes chewed in floor boards where the mice have gained access?
I'd be more concerned about what might be living under that floor and how to prevent it.

 

[Jazzmin]

I had not thought about opening the eaves, they are closed at this time. Rabbits are under the coop, which drives my dog crazy!! I would like to trench around it and close with hardware cloth in the future.
I had about 80 meat birds in it along time ago. Since then it has housed a couple bottle/bucket calves for fair and a few guineas. Nothing for several years.
Too cold in the winter for sand?

 

[aart]

Too cold in the winter for sand?

Ehh...sand can be decent coop bedding in arid climates, most other places once it becomes saturated with pulverized poop(the tiny pieces you can scoop or sift out) and gets damp it really stinks. I've used it in the brooder and discovered that downside., then whaddya do with it?...I used it to fill holes in my yard form an auto accident, grass grew good there.

Gotta think of over all manure management, this is how I do it.
This is about cleaning, but covers manure:
-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.

-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.

-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.

-Runs have semi-deep litter, never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials.

-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 4 years.

 

[aart]

I had not thought about opening the eaves, they are closed at this time. Rabbits are under the coop, which drives my dog crazy!! I would like to trench around it and close with hardware cloth in the future.

Check out my coop page on how to open/cover vents.

Aprons to close off bottom of coop.
Good examples of apron installation, tho I'd not recommend 1/2" HC...go with 14ga 1x2 or 1x1, will hold up much longer and is easier to lay flat.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1110498/wire-around-coop#post_17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

 

[Jazzmin]

Thanks for all your input!!

 

[Jazzmin]

Okay, having read all of the comments, I've re-thought my plan. The existing floor I covered with hardware cloth and I'm now thinking of just placing treated plywood over top and doing the deep bedding method instead of sand, due to the climate where I live. Am I on the right track, thoughts??

 

[blackdog043]

Yes, that will work. I would use untreated plywood and wood shavings for the bedding.

 

[Jazzmin]

Yes, that will work. I would use untreated plywood and wood shavings for the bedding.

I'm also planning on using Blackjack 57 to waterproof over the wood, still use untreated plywood?