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

Discussion in 'Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance' started by Debs55, Mar 25, 2012.

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  1. Mar 25, 2012 #1
    Debs55

    Debs55 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Feb 21, 2012
    In The Middle Of Nowhere GA
    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?
     
  3. Mar 25, 2012 #2
    Chookydeb

    Chookydeb Out Of The Brooder

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    i can offer any advice but thanks for pointing that out! i'm in mid construction and i hadnt thought of that [​IMG]
     
  5. Mar 25, 2012 #3
    fiddlebanshee

    fiddlebanshee Chillin' With My Peeps

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    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.
     
  7. Mar 25, 2012 #4
    SmokinChick

    SmokinChick Chillin' With My Peeps

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    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.
     
  9. Mar 25, 2012 #5
    Debs55

    Debs55 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    In The Middle Of Nowhere GA
    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 :)
     
  11. Mar 25, 2012 #6
    gapeach717

    gapeach717 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Mar 9, 2012
    North, ga
    What is PDz?
     
  13. Mar 25, 2012 #7
    Debs55

    Debs55 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    In The Middle Of Nowhere GA
    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 :)
     
  15. Mar 25, 2012 #8
    gapeach717

    gapeach717 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Ooh! Nice!! Thank you, where can this be bought??
     
  17. Mar 25, 2012 #9
    bj taylor

    bj taylor Chillin' With My Peeps

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    North Central Texas
    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.
     
  19. Mar 25, 2012 #10
    Debs55

    Debs55 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Feb 21, 2012
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