New Coop in Louisiana - Advice Needed

[jmurf]

I currently have two hens and a small mobile coop. I would like to add some hens, so in the near future, I will be building a coop similar to this with a wheel kit installed;


I've been debating the coop floor, 1x1 wire or DLM. I'm in Louisiana, so my thoughts are wire would be best to aid with ventilation. I've read the DLM creates some extra warmth. I would like to hear others thoughts on the floor type.

 

[CapricornFarm]

If you are using DLM, then you want a solid floor. If you plan to move it a lot, go with wire so the hens can get at the bugs and grass.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

In my experience, the 1x1 is pretty useless as far as letting poop fall through. Unless you have bantys. You might look at welded wire.

 

[User395221]

Personally, I wouldn't want wire with chooks. Their poo can be runny, it just gets stuck in wire, congeals on the wire. It won't stay on top, and it won't fall through, it'll just wrap itself around the strands. IMO, a big pain in the neck to clean/keep clean. I'd go for litter on the floor, with something easy to wash down underneath.
There are other ways you can increase ventilation if you need to. Having had chooks for a while, ease of cleaning is up the top of the list after keeping the girls happy and healthy.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Wait. Not on the floor of the run? You're not putting wire under the whole thing, are you?

 

[TalkALittle]

What will be the dimensions of the coop and how many birds will it house? Small coops with lots of birds don't do well with a true composting litter as they are easily overloaded with poop.

 

[jmurf]

Wait. Not on the floor of the run? You're not putting wire under the whole thing, are you?

No. all open in the run. Just wondering about the coop house.

 

[jmurf]

What will be the dimensions of the coop and how many birds will it house? Small coops with lots of birds don't do well with a true composting litter as they are easily overloaded with poop.

6x12, with the coop being 3x6. No more than 5 chickens.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

No. all open in the run. Just wondering about the coop house.

You know what I like? Poop trays. I have two mobile coops, and couldn't do it without the poop trays.

 

[TalkALittle]

6x12, with the coop being 3x6. No more than 5 chickens.

Here's a new thought that has little to do with litter. How will your roosts be configured? If they span the 6' dimension and are placed 1 foot from the wall, that only gives your birds 2 feet to jump up and down. The higher the roost, the more of a "landing zone" they need. You'll want your roosts higher than your nest boxes at least. It would be better to have two roosts that span the 3' dimension. That would give the birds a larger landing area when hopping down. It would also keep droppings on the opposite side from the nesting boxes (if you follow the design of the pic you posted) so the birds won't track poop into the nests.

Again, it's not related to litter or floor material, but it is something to consider in the design and may change where you want clean out doors or droppings trays if you decide to go that route.