I didn't think ahead...how to fix this?

[Debs55]

So my coop is almost finished and I've decided I should use sand and sweet PDZ in the coop. Problem is i've heard you should have atleast 3 inches of it but I feel like it will all fall out the doors and stuff because the only thing around the bottom is a 2x4 so there is only a 1.5 inch lip to keep the sand in. Now I can put boards around everything else but what about the pop doors? If I add a board it will make them alot smaller and they are only 12x12 right now. What should I do? or would it be ok just to not put anything up infront of the pop doors?

 

[Chookydeb]

i can offer any advice but thanks for pointing that out! i'm in mid construction and i hadnt thought of that

 

[fiddlebanshee]

I also forgot a lip with my popdoor. I use pine shavings though, but I doubt it makes a lot of difference for your question. What I have experienced is that they kick bedding out into the run, but it is not excessive and it doesn't bother me. I wouldn't make the opening much smaller as I have large hens (brahmas and australorps are the largest. I should also mention that the popdoor in my case is under a roof so the kicked out bedding doesn't get wet.

So while I initially could kick myself for forgetting, this has actually not turned out so bad. YMMV with sand. Have no experience with it.

 

[SmokinChick]

You could "frame" the floor 6-8 inches away from the pop door. This would keep sand away from the door and not reduce the size of the opening.
I use sand and PDZ. Only have 1 1/2", no problem. The birds don't scratch around unless I'm late letting them out.

 

[Debs55]

ok thanks yall! I might trying the "framing" thing. Like making a kind of "step" infront of it to keep the sand away from it..hmm that might work

 

[gapeach717]

What is PDz?

 

[Debs55]

Sweet PDZ is a horse stall refresher. It is in a powdered form and is meant to keep the coop (or run) dry and smell free

 

[gapeach717]

Ooh! Nice!! Thank you, where can this be bought??

 

[bj taylor]

i'm using the deep litter method. at the human door i have a 1x4 that sits just inside the door on it's edge held up on each side by a 'bracket' for lack of a better word. that 1x can be lifted out for cleaning or whatever & keeps the litter from falling out of the coop. it was added after the coop was finished. at the pop door, i didn't think about the litter. i use a broom to brush the litter in or out of the way to close the door. at this point it isn't a problem - maybe later i will need to come up w/a solution for the pop door.

 

[Debs55]

Ooh! Nice!! Thank you, where can this be bought??

At your local feed store. Like a tractor supply if you have one, here it is on their website: http://www.tractorsupply.com/sweet-...oreId=1419&ddkey=http:LocationBasedPricingCmd


I'm not sure if you have tractor supplies in your area but I'm sure other feed stores also carry it. Glad I could help