Needing ideas and advice: Concrete floor and I already hate pine shavings

[Colez]

I like this one better than the design i started out with years ago and this one if, in a structure doesn't freeze or at least hasn't for me in the 2 years I've used um..

My favorite waterer!

 

[Colez]

I like this one better than the design i started out with years ago and this one if, in a structure doesn't freeze or at least hasn't for me in the 2 years I've used um..

My favorite waterer!

Oh and here's an idea, may not work but thought i would throw it or their. Instead of bolting stuff to the floor like two-by-fours what about just making a floor frame so can slide trays out the bottom similar to like a waterbed frame you know the old style that had the drawers underneath.. I don't know just a thought.. keep us updated with pics, please.

 

[hayley3]

Someone's not wiping their feet?

HaHa Aart...those pine shavings attach to everything...I dropped a lid on the ground and picked it back up and I had to brush off the shavings.

 

[hayley3]

Something like this. You build the wall and stand it up. Shoot nails through the bottom board into concrete. https://www.amazon.com/ITW-Brands-40066-Caliber-Trigger/dp/B002GCU3SO

OMG I didn't realize you build the wall first! I did watch a video about the ceiling plate last night but I ALWAYS wondered how they attached the edge of those studs to the floor plate...trying to visualize a nail long enough to come up through the floor. haha

 

[hayley3]

I like this one better than the design i started out with years ago and this one if, in a structure doesn't freeze or at least hasn't for me in the 2 years I've used um..

My favorite waterer!

How do they drink it? Are those nipples on the bottom?

 

[hayley3]

So does sand dry out? I imagine I would have to mist the dirt every so often and I wonder if it would mold.
And do you not just pick up the droppings in sand like a litter box? Someone mentioned dragging out wet sand to clean...would it actually be that wet...I have 6 chickens and 1 goose atm. I would love some more chickens but 12 total would be my max limit. Also a friend for the goose..MAYBE. Right now I feel she protects my chickens and I heard a goose pair would not do so.

And thanks to EVERYONE for responding. I appreciate the ideas because some things I didn't even think about.

 

[hayley3]

I'm not the OP, so I don't know their set up. In my case, the coop is a framed building, built on a concrete pad, not a pre-fab. It's probably similar to the OP garage in that respect. The door is tightly fitted with a weatherproof strip along the bottom. There is only a few mm of clearance over the coop floor when I swing it it, so pavers wouldn't work. Sometimes I think about resetting the door, so it swings outwards, but I'm kind of used to my system by now.

I'm thinking about placing a frame of 2x4's to contain the sand or dirt, so I could then keep it away from the doorway. But at this point I am not sure how to do it...

 

[Acre4Me]

Someone's not wiping their feet?

In our house random shavings tend to come from the bottom of the pants legs that were either cuffed or pushed up from the work boots. Of course, there is also the kid who somehow manages to get many things attached to their socks ...even with boots on, always a surprise on laundry day.

 

[azygous]

The advantage of sand over dirt is it does dry out faster. The only way you're going to end up with soggy sand is if you have a major spill. That happened just a few weeks ago to me. The water tank nipples got hung up on the wool cover I place over the water heater blanket to keep the water from freezing. The chickens had been playing with it and it caused a nipple to be on the drip position long enough to empty 5 gallons of water onto the sand under it.

I did not need to shovel and haul the wet sand out. I merely stirred it up, aerated it so it could air dry. It was dry in two days in spite of the freezing cold. It did not freeze solid because my enclosed run stays ten degrees warmer than outside and the chickens kept it stirred up since they love digging in damp sand.

Unless the dirt you will be using is clay based, but a sandy loam, I don't see why it wouldn't work just as well as sand. I use a cat box scooper to pick up the poop. There's never been a odor or fly problem. However, no matter what bedding you select, shavings, sand or dirt, there's going to be dust. In summer, I do spray the sand with a fine mist to provide evaporation for cooling and it keeps the dust down. In winter, I just put up with the dust.

 

[aart]

So does sand dry out?

Not likely in your climate, especially on top of concrete.

HaHa Aart...those pine shavings attach to everything...I dropped a lid on the ground and picked it back up and I had to brush off the shavings.

I Know, Right!? Have to watch they don't stick to anything before I go beyond the doorway and into the house. Even tho I change my from my 'barn' shoes to house shoes right at the door....and actually wipe my feet on the way from the coop to the house as well as brushing off any dust I've picked up leaning into something dusty in the storage part of coop shed.

In our house random shavings tend to come from the bottom of the pants legs that were either cuffed or pushed up from the work boots. Of course, there is also the kid who somehow manages to get many things attached to their socks ...even with boots on, always a surprise on laundry day.

I have a brush(half a wallpaper brush) the clean things up....mostly the dog.

Disclaimer, I live alone so no other folks to cause problems.... or blame