Lowes Playhouse for $199, Floor Type and Deep Litter Method? DE WWash

[mattmatts-momma]

We are almost done building ours. We still have to finish the roof.

I am trying to decide the same thing. We are going to build a nestbox and attached it to the back wall of the house. We will have to cut through the back wall, so the chickens can access it from the inside.

If anyone has pictures of the inside of theirs, could you post them? Thank you!!

 

[ebonykawai]

I have the blue one, this is what I did:

The roost is near the back, 18" off the ground. I placed it so that it wouldn't be in a direct line of the windows. Then I have the nest box, which is on the right hand wall. It's attached outside, I cut a door through the wall, and also braced that whole wall with 1/2 plywood. The nest box is also made from 1/2 plywood so it's not that heavy. I have it directly under the window, not sure how high off the floor it is. It isn't under the roost (didn't want the ladies bombing each other, lol). I plan on hanging the feeder and waterer from the ceiling in the front corners, but I may just have them on a cinder block instead. Not sure.

 

[skatcatla]

I was considering this playhouse as well. It looked so cute in the picture online! When I went down to see it though I was a bit disappointed in the quality. They had one assembled outside that seemed to have a lot of gaps in it. It could be just the assembly job though. I decided just to have my carpenter build me one. It's almost finished and I'll post photos later this week.

I absolutely second the other people who said to try linoleum flooring. I'll be doing that as well, and then a layer of litter over that.

 

[mattmatts-momma]

Quote:
When you add the linoleum, do you have to glue it down or do you just set it in there?

 

[Smitty's Farm]

Quote:
When you add the linoleum, do you have to glue it down or do you just set it in there?

We love our linoleum floor. It's so easy to clean. I think we stapled it down, but I know some member clued theirs down. I'll ask my husband.

 

[skatcatla]

Quote:
When you add the linoleum, do you have to glue it down or do you just set it in there?

Yes, you just put down a layer of the base adhesive. It needs a bit of time to set and "open up" and then you just lay the linoleum on top, trim off the extra and the corners, and then use something heavy to sort of press it down (a heavy wood rolling pin is great!) You can get adhesive that has low/no odor.

I suppose if you wanted, you could just get away with nailing it down. A staple gun might work, but it would probably need to be a pretty heavy duty one.

 

[mosier]

Is this the coop you're talking about:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=276546-62478-276546&lpage=none
?

Or is this one:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=263210-12341-263210&lpage=none


Just curious. They both look so nice!

 

[All about the EGG]

I just picked up ours from Lowes in Northbrook Illinois. One trick when shopping...some stores have the sale price, others dont. The store I got it from did not have it listed online either. So keep shopping from store to store in your area. I checked about 10 stores.

Mosier, the 2nd one you list is the one.

I will figure on building it when the weather gets a little warmer...in the 30's!

Whoo hoo!!! Instant coop!

 

[Jillylam]

Just a tip with the linoleum floor. I made a mistake with mine. My coop is large so I used remnants and pieced them together. I used the glue to hold it down but I didn't take the time to do it neatly and correctly. My seams lifted up and the shavings bunched up underneath. It pays to do it right the first time. But I do love the linoleum. It's great at cleaning time. One other thing. If you are putting shavings over the top of the linoleum which is what I do, you have to make it deep enough so that when the chickens jump down from the roosts they don't slip around. Have fun with your project!

 

[SeaChick]

We stapled our lino floor.... and wrapped it about 4" up the sides. It is definitely best to have a continuos piece, but I had to piece together scraps on one corner; I used duct tape to tape the seams but the girls picked it away where it runs up the wall those 4". So it's not 100% waterproof, and I need to be careful when doign the occasional big cleaning with hot water -although that's not very often since usually I simple shovel/seep the shavings out and spot-clean any sticky mess easily off the linoleum.... From our experience, I'd say that if you have a whole sheet to fit, staples (at least 3/8") would be fine, but the glue method might work better if you have to piece stuff together. Just remember that contact adhesives off-gass some SUPER toxic stuff for a good long while, if you use the glue. I personally would not want to put hens into an enclosed space with new adhesive until it had cured for 4 or 5 days at least!!

Stacey