Mold ---- Eeek! with pics

[patandchickens]

If you enclose the ENTIRE bottom with 1/4" hardwarecloth, including the floor (ground), all tight with no gaps, that will pretty much keep rats and most mice out. Make the front hinged so you can open it. Then get, or build, a plastic or plywood tray that exactly fits that area. Put a dusting of shavings into that poop tray (to absorb odor and to make it easier to clean), then just pull it out and clean however often is necessary. I.e before mold develops LOL

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Boo-Boo's Mama]

You can find trays at TSC for rabbit cages...should be able to fit these under your chicken coop.

I use a thin layer of sand in the trays under my chicken hutches. It dries the poo out so it does not get stinky. I use a screened scoop to shift out the poo/food that has fallen into the tray (daily thing for me). If the tray is not too large/heavy, you could also just pull the tray out and dump into a compost pile then put a fresh layer of sand and replace.

You should modify your feeder with holes instead of the large openings. The chickens are probably not just billing the feed out but also scratching it out.

Good luck...we are still trying to get the run built...will be 10'x20'x8' tall with a roof. Shed remodel into a coop will come after the run is completed since we have hutches we can use in the run.

 

[erindubb]

Thank you everyone so much for the feedback. I really appreciate it.

 

[Maxbeard]

You could use concrete mixing pans, mine are 18"x24"x5", very sturdy with a decent lip, and cheap. They sell them at Lowes or Home Depot in the concrete area.

 

[erindubb]

Would the concrete mixing pan go under the food only or under the whole thing? I can't picture it.

 

[flakey chick]

They might make less of a mess with pellets instead of crumbles.

 

[erindubb]

Oh that is true - never thought of that. I still have about a third of the bag of chick food left. When do I get the next step food? I am thinking I get it when I run out of this? Or do I buy this chick grow stuff again? They are all about 10 weeks old? Maybe 12.

 

[father-clucker]

Stupid question.. Why not flip the coop on its side (or upside down?), remove the existing mesh floor, add a sheet of plywood on the bottom as the 'new' floor, cover with linoleum (or similar), put some 6-8" strips of plywood on the sides and switch over to the deep litter method which (I gather) is easier for maintenance,etc.. ? Just a thought!