Is hardware cloth ok as coop floor?

[NewbieChicklet]

I am getting ready to move my 5 week old chicks into the coop outside. The coop we bought has hardware cloth as the flooring which is raised off of the ground. I'm certain it is safe but feeling bad that the chicks will have to transition to walking on this wire after having soft pine shavings under their feet for their short lives. Should I cover the wire with cardboard and pine shavings or will they be comfortable on the hardware cloth?

Thanks for any tips!

 

[orloffer]

walking on this wire after having soft pine shavings under their feet for their short lives.

"Short lives"
Are they meat birds, or are you referring to the average lifespan of a chicken? I am confused.

 

[Sonya9]

I wouldn't keep birds on a hardwire cloth floor. It maybe be easier to clean but it is surely not comfortable at all. Course stores also keep tiny babies on hardware cloth and I think that is barbaric.

 

[Lilokieescorter]

It should be fine for little bit, I have a couple in a tractor that has hardware cloth & they're doing good. If you're afraid it would be hard on them you could always put in a thin board to put on the floor

 

[Lilokieescorter]

"Short lives"
Are they meat birds, or are you referring to the average lifespan of a chicken? I am confused.

Meaning that they are only use to the pine shavings since having them, I assume

 

[eaking]

Our floor is hardware cloth (on top of concrete pavers) and topped with pine shavings. They are perfectly content. We wanted it to be impossible for an animal to dig underneath the coop. The concrete pavers we put in later as an extra layer of protection and in case of heavy rain (they're two inches higher than the ground when in the run).

 

[NewbieChicklet]

"Short lives"
Are they meat birds, or are you referring to the average lifespan of a chicken? I am confused.

haha, I meant they are only 5 weeks old so they have had a soft floor so far. They are for egg production.

 

[orloffer]

haha, I meant they are only 5 weeks old so they have had a soft floor so far. They are for egg production.

Sorry, I just wasn't sure. Maybe it's the way I read it.

 

[aart]

1/2" HC?
Probably OK, they may not like tho.
Nothing says you can't throw some shavings on the mesh at least for now.

Hopefully the mesh is pretty smooth, sometimes the are sharp little bumps from the fabrication process taht can be heck on chick feet.

Sometimes a mesh coop floor is good for ventilation, depending on your climate.
Can be good for poops falling thru, while they are still tiny, not later,
so might be putting a solid floor in would be good.
Posting some pics of coop and run might garner more advice.

Oh, and... Welcome to BYC! @NewbieChicklet
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[NewbieChicklet]

1/2" HC?

Oh, and... Welcome to BYC! @NewbieChicklet
Where in this world are you located?

Yes, 1/2 ". Thanks for the tips! I'm in the SF Bay Area in California, will add to my profile. Still have a lot to learn clearly!