How do you seal the inside of the coop?

[kmdsparrow]

We are in the process of building a coop and wonder if we should paint or somehow seal the inside? I saw one that had linoleum on the floor. Any advice?

 

[bfrancis]

I used linoleum. Easy easy clean up. Poo and water can't get to the wood flooring now to rot it out. As well as the birds scratching the bedding that also would expedite wood rot. Hopefully this helps.

you can see the rest of the pics here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=52686-buckeye-coop

 

[patandchickens]

Many people on this forum are very keen on linoleum or vinyl flooring, but having both that (preexisting) AND just plain painted plywood AND bare cement floors, I don't honestly see that vinyl is a particular advantage over just a good coat o' paint. If you can get a scrap piece for free, sure, why not; although it's still smart to paint the surface underneath it, especially if it is OSB rather than plywood.

But a good prime-and-paint job (THIN not thick coats) works just fine

Often you can find leftover dribs and drabs in the basement, or someone else's basement, or for cheap at Habitat for Humanity stores or your municipal recycling center, or buy cheap mistints... no need for full retail unless you just have your heart totally set on doing the coop in "Sea Pearl" or "Burnt Almond" or whatever <g>

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[TheGardenCoop]

I agree with Pat. If you expect a LOT of traffic (both human and chicken feet) and/or a lot of moisture, the linoleum may be worth it. In our two coops, the henhouses are raised, so it's just chickens in there. We used OSB for the floor of one and plywood for the other. A coat of primer and a couple coats of quality exterior latex works great to seal either material.

 

[CityChook]

If you prime and paint the interior of your coop, it will be substantially easier to clean. Poo simply washes off with soapy water and only a few spots will need scrubbing. Not so with bare wood. If you prefer the look of wood, I like to use a good coat of linseed oil/mineral spirits to give it a barrier against moisture/poo.

I didn't go with linoleum because I'm hopelessly cheap -- I just primed and painted the floor when I was done with the walls. It has held up well for the last few years.