Is Just Plain Dirt Ok for Inside Coop

[ParadiseChickens]

We are just about finished with our conversion of a horse stall to a chicken coop and I am wondering about just using the dirt floor that is there. We have been converting this thing for about 6 weeks now and all this time I have been planning on using shavings but it is a hassle that I have been thru before with the horses and would like to not have to deal with that. I am in North Texas and the dirt we have is red with a mix of sand and a little clay. I do already have the DE and PDZ Stall Dry that I will use. Right now they go out daily from their temp home of a 100 gallon stock tank to a temporary run that is 4 x 12 with a dirt floor which is just so easy to keep clean. Course the stock tank is a real pain but maybe just because I have eight 10 week old production reds in it.

I see the post with good things said about a sand floor but what about a mix of sand/clay. BTW, in case it matters, the way the stall (now coop) was built there is no way rain water can seep in. And when finished there will be a permanent 10 x 12 (fenced) dirt run on the front of the coop.

Thank you.

 

[LarryPQ]

Dirt works fine.

Mine is a mix of sand and dirt. The run is plain dirt.

If it is warm/dry enough where you are, you should be fine. Just toss a handfull of shavings in when it gets stinky, and rake up debris when needed!

 

[ParadiseChickens]

Anybody else have any comments? It wont get wet inside the coop.

 

[BarefootMom]

works just fine for us.

 

[Kudzu]

Yes, dirt is fine, we Mississippians have eaten it since birth.

 

[Rebecky54]

They say for the deep litter method a dirt floor is best. I don't have a dirt floor now, but have in the past and it works fine. Just be sure nothing can dig underneath the coop to get in.

Becky

 

[zeus]

Hi...dirt floor will provide nice holes for dust baths!!! i am sure it will be fine-we have dirt areas in our coop and they have dug good size holes for their dirt baths,and to keep cool!..watch where you walk-you can snap an ankle!!

 

[LarryPQ]

True dat! But I till the whole coop and run after a heavy rain, which dries it out and gets rid of flies.

It also re-levels the ground, and makes for happy, happy chickens who go into dustbathing overdrive.