Hardware cloth flooring

[Dom G]

Will having hardware cloth instead of a wood floor hurt my chickens feet? I’ve heard yes and no from articles on the web. They won’t be on it constantly, only a small section will be hardware cloth. 4-5 feet. They have a whole shed.

 

[DobieLover]

Why would you have just a section of the floor hardware cloth? If the intent is to have the poop fall through under the roosts, it won't work because the poops of adult chickens is too large to easily fall through. You'd have to use a large opening wire.
I personally wouldn't do it because of the risk of foot injury and predator access.

 

[Dom G]

No, the idea is not for catching poop. It’s to avoid the smell of ammonia build up.

 

[DobieLover]

No, the idea is not for catching poop. It’s to avoid the smell of ammonia build up.

How would that work? You need to remove the load often enough to prevent ANY ammonia odor. If you need more ventilation, you should open it up high over the birds roosted heads.

 

[Dom G]

How would that work? You need to remove the load often enough to prevent ANY ammonia odor. If you need more ventilation, you should open it up high over the birds roosted heads.

They’re 13 week old chicks, separated from the rest of my chickens. The ammonia smell is sticking in the wood floor. They have 2 levels but they never go down to the first level. It’s ventilated, I wasn’t sure what to do. I clean it frequently enough

 

[rosemarythyme]

How much ventilation do you have (in sq ft please)? You said 2 levels, does that amount of ventilation run through the entire area? Or is this like a prefab coop where the coop itself isn't ventilated?

Ammonia needs to be vented upward. If the smell is in the floor, then you need more litter to absorb poop and odors, or to clean it out more frequently.

Are the 13 week olds going to stay as a separate flock? If not, maybe this is time to move them in with the others, if you don't have ammonia issues in that set up?

 

[Dom G]

Yes, they will be living with the other eventually, they’ve been separated for 2 weeks now. I’ve read that they should be separated and in sight for the others to observe for 3 weeks. What do you think? I’ve had them out in the yard all together and one of the other chickens pecks at the chicks

 

[rosemarythyme]

2 weeks is pretty good. It's not unusual for one or two older birds to go after younger birds. When that happens, how badly is the chasing/attacking (is it persistent, or on and off)? Is it bad enough that blood is drawn or that the younger ones aren't allowed to eat or drink?

Is there plenty of space in the yard when they're out together? Is there clutter or other hiding spaces the younger birds can use: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/page-6#post-25037140 ?

 

[Dom G]

The coop is 9x10 and the older hen was pecking at the chick for going into her food. I have 3 total feed areas. I only saw it happen once but that was also the first time they were together. No blood was drawn

 

[rosemarythyme]

Normal and expected that an older bird would protect her resources, in this case, feed. A little chasing off I consider acceptable and I would not intervene. Persistent and unrelenting chasing, or injury, I would not consider acceptable.

Are the 3 feed areas completely separate with clutter blocking the view from feeder to feeder? That will allow picked on birds to feed with less harassment.