Flooring for new Coop

[Raising_Chickens]

We are building a chicken shed (off the ground on blocks) for our chickens (17 of them). It has been a long process. We have mostly used pallets with the exception of plywood for the floor and T111 for the exterior walls. The floor at the current moment is treated plywood and we are debating on floor coverings. We just have a rubber horse stall mat in our coop now but it is really only big enough for them to roost. We have plenty of run space for them so they don't spend time in the coop. My hubby is leaning towards Valspar Anti-skid paint. He says the that much horse stall matt would be very expensive and he is concerned that linoleum might allow water to seep through.

I couldn't work out if it was okay to use on wood and decided to call the customer service. She said it would be fine but recommended putting a bonder down first. Since I told her it was for a chicken coop floor she had to tell me that none of their paints are tested for use around animals.

My question is has anyone used this in their coop? Would we still need to use some type of litter? We do have a separate roosting shelf so the roosts are not directly over the floor.

I appreciate any suggestions!

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Valspar-Da...57:Valspar&CAWELAID=&kpid=3086157&CAGPSPN=pla{ifdyn:dyn}&k_clickID=ce0bfa5b-09a5-4393-9178-9a5bbde2b9ae

 

[apryl29]

I used a tarp to cover the floor of my coop. I used boards and didn't want the wood to absorb chicken liquids and odors. I considered using vinyl, but it was super expensive. I just got a large enough tarp and stapled it down. It was cheap enough that I figured if I needed to replace it in a few months I'd be ok. I didn't want to paint b/c I worried that it would wear or chip off and the birds would eat it. The tarp has worked well for me so far, 4 months in or so. Also, I use straw on the floor of my coop over the tarp, and in the nesting boxes. I clean their poo piles up at least once a week and every couple weeks I use a rake and broom to clean out everything. In winter I'll just keep tossing down straw and do a major clean out in the spring. I like straw b/c it doesn't break down like wood chips, though I've seen people on here talk about sand and other bedding materials. Straw works well enough for me though.

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

I painted everything inside the coop including the plywood floor with Behr latex semi-gloss enamel exterior paint. It cleans up so easily with a spritz of white vinegar and paper towels.
On the floor we also cut out a piece of vinyl flooring to fit and loose-laid it and then added pine shavings. There is really no wetness in our coop at all.
We built poop boards for under the roosts, lined them with a piece of vinyl flooring, and added PDZ and a bit of pine flakes---no stink and easy clean. The PDZ dries the poop right up and turns it into little Tootsie Turds.
I only have six girls so it's an easy job so far.
Here's the interior:

 

[Hokum Coco]

I appreciate any suggestions!

I covered my floor with a piece of vinyl cushion floor friction fit with pine shavings. No issues in 5 years.

 

[Chick O Lay]

I'm in the process of building up my coop and run. Mine is in my backyard on the dirt and my chickens dig everything up. I do let them out most of the day when I am home. (We have lots of Hawks)
I admit I'm still new at this stuff, but it's been a fun adventure to say the least.
Anyway, what I have read most, is to cover plywood for sure because it harbors mites etc...I am debating myself to use paint or peel and stick vinyl squares. They both seem to be great choices. I am at the point to do which ever is quicker, as I need to get them off the dirt for when the rains come.
I reclaimed my greenhouse frame and enclosed it with chicken wire.
I have nailed plywood to these pallets that I got for $Free.99! Next, is the paint/vinyl covering then set the coop on it back on the dirt. I cut the wood the size of the pallets so that we could move it easily if need be.
Does anyone have have any suggestions otherwise regarding paint or tile?
Oh, and this is Rocky, my Lovely Rooster!

 

[aart]

I used a single sheet of heavy duty foam backed vinyl topped with pine shavings.
Has held up well for 4 years now.
See My Coop page for pics and more info.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I am going to use vinyl kitchen flooring in my coop. Got a remnant today, $80 for 8'6"by 12'
You might want to rethink the chicken wire. It will keep chickens in, but will not keep predators out.

 

[jeria]

Building my first coop so no expert for sure. I have used exterior plywood and have 2 coats of exterior paint on the floor, still building. Plans are to use a deep litter and from what I've learned on here most floors have no water issue with a deeper litter.

 

[Hokum Coco]

I used a tarp to cover the floor of my coop.

This is what I use in my pigeon loft on the floor. In fact I have 2 identical tarps that I do a tarp exchange when the loft needs cleaning. No bedding needed as it seems to migrate to the perimeter of the loft as the birds fly and exercise.

Easy Peasy Japanese!

 

[aart]

2 coats of exterior paint on the floor, still building. Plans are to use a deep litter

A true composting deep litter will not work well at all on a wooden floor,
it needs contact with the soil for the organisms that make it work,
and moisture so those organisms can live.
That needed moisture will eventually rot a wooden floor, painted or not.

Keep dry bedding on the coop floor, do the deep litter in the run.