Need help settling run flooring argument btwn me and hubby!

[kdcrws]

just bury it around the edges, the wire's not so good for their feet.

As far as the grass goes....They will soon have it turned to dirt in no time. We live in N Fl so we prob have some of the same issues. What we do is after we cut the grass we rake up the grass clippings and put them in the runs. The chickens love it, it's absorbent, and it composts easy. Every other week we add more and about once a month (or so) when i'm doing the major coop cleaning I rake it all out and put new down.

edited to add: we leave their doors open all the time day and night and we have yet to loose anybody. In fact my 4 oldest chickens are the only ones who have a door that can close.

 

[EweSheep]

Quote:
I think Rusty hit the spot with his suggestions and advices. I was worried about the flooding going on because I used to live in Lafayette, LA and boy, all that rain just floods everything and poor broiler farms had to find a way to keep them dry for a few days.

 

[patandchickens]

I say it depends a lot on what you're trying to keep out. If rats are a concern, a buried hardwarecloth floor (with hardwarecloth pen walls and a ratproof top as well) is for sure the way to go. Otherwise, it has significant disadvantages in terms of cost and labor, and you will not be able to monitor or replace it easily when it starts to rust (and yes, even galvanized WILL rust, in time, especially when buried).

If you do want to do a totally-hardwarecloth floor, I don't see anything wrong with it provided you have a very ample depth of sand (or gravel, or mix) on top of it, like a foot or so at minimum.

I would not trust a fence buried merely 12" deep with dogs or foxes around. Many can and will dig down deeper than that. For real security IMO you want at *least* six inches deeper than that, or more. I would not use hardwarecloth, instead use heaviest gauge 2x4" wire (galvanized) as it will last longer and you for SURE do not want to be having that rust through and need replacing all round the trenched-in area

There is a third option to consider -- get some heavy gauge 2x4" welded wire mesh, and lay it ON (or just barely under) the ground as an apron, 2-4' wide, all around the run and coop, securely attached to the base of the run fence. This works about as well as trenching the bottom of the fence in, and is usually lots less work and easier to replace if it should ever become necessary. Pin it down well, and either turn the edge downward or cover it so that it doesn't catch feet and lawnmowers. In most conditions it becomes covered in the topmost layer of the lawn/soil pretty quickly so there is no aesthetic problem.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

I'm with you - tin or wire at least 6 inches down on the sides. That is the way all mine are with a dirt floor covered in hay.

 

[redhen]

The wire will eventually start to hurt their feet. And then they will get bumble foot. THey like to dust bathe..they dig DEEP holes to dust bathe in...wires just not a good idea unless the dirt on top is very,very deep.

 

[Judy]

Agree with Pat, the apron is the only way, you know when it needs replacing and it's relatively easy to install and replace. Hardware cloth floor won't hurt anything if covered, but don't see any point in the money or effort involved.