Henhouse floor styles

[Luciahrose]

I’m designing our coop and have some decisions to make. I’m 50something and want minimal workload as we age & our kids fledge. So far we’ve used dirt floor with woodchips, hay, grass clippings, shredded paper, pine shavings, etc. it’s not bad, but it’s difficult to clean, if only once or twice a year.

Looking for input. Thanks

I prefer a concrete floor with deep bedding to keep rats from tunneling into the coop area.

 

[Appalachickens]

I have used a product called pond Shield to seal my wooden coop. It is for fish ponds but it works great in my coop. It is totally waterproof , I can take a hose and wash down the wooden floors, walls, nesting boxes and perches. I can wash really poppy spots in between full cleaning. The shaving move easily off of it and less smell as their pee doesn’t get absorbed into the wood.
Takes two people to put on and us time sensitive but once done it’s great .

I haven’t heard of that product, but it sounds like a good idea. I’m using APOC 243, an elastomeric roof coating on the floor. I figure if two coats can make a roof waterproof, it should work on a coop floor as well. A gallon is a little under $30.

 

[Shellihens]

I guess it has just been a ton of heavy volume to move out. Maybe it’s the wood chips. If we were to take it down (and we do want to harvest that soil they make) it would be 20+ wheelbarrows.

Use pine shavings instead of wood chips, not as heavy.

 

[Love-my-girls]

I’m designing our coop and have some decisions to make. I’m 50something and want minimal workload as we age & our kids fledge. So far we’ve used dirt floor with woodchips, hay, grass clippings, shredded paper, pine shavings, etc. it’s not bad, but it’s difficult to clean, if only once or twice a year.

Looking for input. Thanks

Sand! So easy to maintain. Just need a scooper/sifter.

 

[Evadig]

I have three coops:

The main one isn’t exactly a coop - more of a walk-in covered run with a dirt floor. I never have to clean anything.

My second biggest coop is a converted shed. I use the deep litter method for this one. I rarely have to clean in there, either.

The third coop is a pre-fabricated coop with a tray that is supposedly removable, but I have sand on it. I like that ‘cause I just have to go out and scoop, much like cat litter.

 

[Appalachickens]

Sand! So easy to maintain. Just need a scooper/sifter.

Does that require daily cleaning?

 

[Acre4Me]

We have a walk in coop that is elevated 2.5-3’ above ground. Chickens hang out underneath, bc coop is within a larger roofed enclosure. Run is deep litter, but coop get pine shavings. Floor is plywood with vinyl flooring over top. Coop has been used for 7 years, floor is in decent condition. The elevated nature of the floor keeps it pretty dry. If rain is blowing hard, from just the right direction, the most exposed corner can get damp bc we have vertical slat walls, but has happened maybe 2x in 7 years.