flooring for outdoor coop

[Ducker2]

Hi to everyone new to BYC and its the best site ever! I just built a coop. I will post pics later. I cant believe how much work it was. I had to insulate because I plan on keeping my hens over the winter. I plan on putting cedar inside but I still havent decided what to put outside. I plan on letting the hens run free when Im home so I dont really know if I will need anything. Will I need grit and can I just have water and food outside? What time of the day do I have to open the coop? If the coop is all fenced in can I leave the coop door open overnight so I dont have to get up to early? Any how I'm sure I will have some other questions so I will leave it at tht for now.

Thanks Rick Ottawa Canada

 

[AlienChick]

WELCOME to BYC!!!

Yes, coop building can be a lot of work.
As you get more and more chickens (and you will), you will notice that your coops will take less and less work.
You'll be making large pens or something and calling it a coop. LOL

If your chickens are free ranging and digging around in the dirt, you do not need to supply any additional grit since they'll be eating the little rocks in the dirt.
I generally do not keep food outside since it attracts other critters to come over for a free meal.
I keep the food inside the coop and the chickens go in and out as necessary.
I DO keep fresh water inside the coop as well as in several locations outside the coop.

I open up my coop whenever I get up in the morning.
Usually about 7:30 or 8am.
Sometimes I leave my coop door open during the night since I have a fenced-in yard AND I have livestock guardian dogs inside that yard and the dogs keep all predators away.
To keep my dogs from eating the chicken feed inside the coop I put a kiddie gate across the coop door entrance.
The chickens just fly over the kiddie gate.

ENJOY your chickens, and feel free to ask as many questions as you can!
We're all here to help and learn along with you!