FT Knox of chicken Coops. Question about floor.

[Sublight]

I am thinking about 2 different options.

Dirt - Make a dirt floor. Around the perimeter of the coop, I will dig into the ground and pour concrete into a channel that's about 12-16 inches deep so nothing can dig into it. Then join the Coop walls and that concrete with machine wire for ventilation around the bottom of the coop.

Option 2 is wood floor so it can be sealed up. I want to be able to walk into the coop, so if I do this then it will be low to the ground.

Option 3 is a hybrid of 1 and 2, but with a solid concrete floor.

Im opting for security from critters being able to dig in.
I know things chew through wood, but I have that covered.
What are you opinions about a large coop that can be walked into, but is still secure as Ft. Knox.

 

[ronott1]

I am thinking about 2 different options.

Dirt - Make a dirt floor. Around the perimeter of the coop, I will dig into the ground and pour concrete into a channel that's about 12-16 inches deep so nothing can dig into it. Then join the Coop walls and that concrete with machine wire for ventilation around the bottom of the coop.

Option 2 is wood floor so it can be sealed up. I want to be able to walk into the coop, so if I do this then it will be low to the ground.

Option 3 is a hybrid of 1 and 2, but with a solid concrete floor.

Im opting for security from critters being able to dig in.
I know things chew through wood, but I have that covered.
What are you opinions about a large coop that can be walked into, but is still secure as Ft. Knox.

Wood off of the ground is what I use. There is about 18 inches of space below the coop. It is a lot less expensive then cement and is secure from burrowing predators too. In my place, it keeps them above water too

 

[Sublight]

Wood off of the ground is what I use. There is about 18 inches of space below the coop. It is a lot less expensive then cement and is secure from burrowing predators too. In my place, it keeps them above water too

Do you walk around inside it?
My coop is going to be a large coop. IM going to build it once, and spare no expense to make it predator Proof. Including metal flashing at plywood joints, completely enclosed run with machine wire, concrete footers, automatic doors, etc. One and done.

 

[ronott1]

Do you walk around inside it?
My coop is going to be a large coop. IM going to build it once, and spare no expense to make it predator Proof. Including metal flashing at plywood joints, completely enclosed run with machine wire, concrete footers, automatic doors, etc. One and done.

My cook is not that big but I can get up into it.

For a big one, go with cement. Rats can burrow under most barriers

 

[Sublight]

My cook is not that big but I can get up into it.

For a big one, go with cement. Rats can burrow under most barriers

even 12+ inches deep?

 

[ronott1]

even 12+ inches deep?

I think so. There are burrowing rats and if they are in your area they could be a problem.
Hopefully they are not in you area though. You could check

 

[aart]

My Coop is in a shed that is 24-30" off the ground....there's steps and a 'porch' to the door.

 

[Birdinhand]

I have a dirt floor, I use hardware cloth down 2' into the ground and all has been good for 3 years now. BUT, I decided to run electricity and water into the coop this year so I dug a trench under the HC and I was saddened to find that in that short time the hardware cloth has started to rust through completely. Combine that with the fact that now I kind of wish I could remove all deep litter and start over on occasion, I kind of wish I had a concrete floor. If I were to do it again, I would likely go with a concrete floor, with a lip that came up about 6" +, to the hardware cloth. I think in the long run this would make for easy cleaning and best security. If I don't do this, I will be finding some kind of spray or paint or way to dip the part of the hardware cloth that goes under ground in something like silicone to protect it, before I replace the sections that are rusting out underground. that and/or maybe deeper eves would do the trick to keep water away.

 

[Howard E]

If this is to be a large, permanent chicken house, then a cement floor is the best choice. In days of old it was seen as the gold standard. No rats and if placed in the right spot and built correctly.....meaning elevated on a bed of gravel.......high and dry. Also easy to clean. Generally, you use a thin layer of litter on cement and clean it out fairly often......every few weeks or months......depending on the manure load. It should never smell in there.