Protecting a wood floor?

[TCFarm]

So, here I am asking silly newbie questions again. You all have been so much help in my search for a suitable coop (I posted the link to my previous thread below). Unfortunately, I can't make my own coop right now--I have two children under 4, and I feel like a large-scale (for me) building project would be too much to take on.

So, I'm considering buying a 7 ft x 12 ft Amish-made coop that can be delivered and placed in my fence. My question is about protecting the wood floor. They want an extra $370 to include an epoxy floor. I'm thinking I can just put down my own linoleum to save some money. I've read on the forum some of you use a rubberized coating? What would you suggest?--get the upgrade or fix the floor myself. Thank you to everyone in advance. Without you all, I would without a doubt make all the wrong choices!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ou-cant-build-it.1301498/page-7#post-21230756

Your coops looks amazing! I just had a very similar one (Mennonites made it) delivered Thursday.
I was initially going to prime it and paint the walls and floor, but I had them insulate it and the wood they used inside is so lovely, that I have decided to use a clear-coat water sealant instead. For the floor, I am using linoleum, and running it partway up the sides as well, especially under the roosts. Then I will cover the floor in the chicken area with those thick rubber stall mats you use for horses and other livestock. This may be overkill (3 floor coverings, lol); but some of my girls are rather kamikaze when they leave their roosts in the morning, and I hate to have them slide all over on the slippery, shavings-covered linoleum.
I too, am concerned about ventilation. I had them add an extra window, but I am going to have a carpenter friend add gable vents also.

 

[TCFarm]

Thank you all for the feedback! Some really interesting points have been brought up. I hadn't thought about the merits of putting hardware cloth on the inside versus the outside of the windows. I looked through the pictures and can't tell if it's secured by staples or something more formidable. I haven't ordered it yet, so that's a good question to ask them. I can reinforce it, if necessary. I also wish that it was set a little higher off the ground (it's 8 inches), would be nice if there was room for the chickens to run underneath for shade or protection from the rain. I also hadn't thought about fumes coming from vinyl vs linoleum. That's good to know. I'll look into that also.

Here's the link if anyone is interested.

https://www.mypetchicken.com/catalo...x12-Chicken-Coop-up-to-40-chickens-p1785.aspx

It's $2700 (gulp) without any options. Delivery to our area is free but there's a $200 fee for yard placement w/forklift or skid loader (which we'd need b/c of the fence). I wouldn't choose any of the other options or add-ons. My husband is starting to get cold feet, but I've spent hours online and can't seem to find anything better (other than the local guy whose trailer probably can't get in our fence, darn). There are shed places in Nashville and Atlanta that have 8 x 10 coops, but they either won't deliver 2 hours away or charge outrageous prices for delivery ($1000, yikes!!!). I haven't spent as much time pricing sheds, but the 8 x 10's I've seen seem to be in the 2k range when installation/delivery is included, and then I'd have to spend time/money converting them to coops (and acquiring proper tools, jig saw, ect).

I'm embarrassed by how much it costs, I'm usually quite frugal, but what do you all think...does it seem like it would keep chickens happy and safe with some simple modifications? Does the price seem reasonable? I could probably just get a smaller size, but it would be kind of nice to have some room to grow....

That price is not outrageous at all. I'm in Canada and just almost twice that, for a Mennonite made coop! I added in delivery and insulation and another window. So, given the exchange between our dollars; roughly the same or more. I am usually a make do with old stuff, recycle kinda gal; but I have needed a larger, safer coop for 20 years! I shopped around quite a bit and found nothing this well made, using real wood as opposed to toxic glued press board products.

 

[TwoShepherds]

Your coops looks amazing! I just had a very similar one (Mennonites made it) delivered Thursday.
I was initially going to prime it and paint the walls and floor, but I had them insulate it and the wood they used inside is so lovely, that I have decided to use a clear-coat water sealant instead. For the floor, I am using linoleum, and running it partway up the sides as well, especially under the roosts. Then I will cover the floor in the chicken area with those thick rubber stall mats you use for horses and other livestock. This may be overkill (3 floor coverings, lol); but some of my girls are rather kamikaze when they leave their roosts in the morning, and I hate to have them slide all over on the slippery, shavings-covered linoleum.
I too, am concerned about ventilation. I had them add an extra window, but I am going to have a carpenter friend add gable vents also.

It's not mine yet, I wish it was! I am almost ready to order it though. Thanks for responding, it's nice to hear from someone who has a similar coop as there aren't many reviews online, and I haven't seen it in person (yikes)! Putting water sealant on the walls is a really good idea. I like the thought of the rubber stall mats too. I was reading on the forum the other day about someone who puts a tarp under the bedding so when they want to clean, they just pull the tarp out...that seemed like a fairly nifty idea to me. Thanks for sharing! I'm glad to hear that you're happy with yours!!

 

[Ghosty]

Everyone has their own methods, and the reasons behind them; boils down to whatever works for the individual.

No matter the method, I'm sure we are agreed it needs to be well fastened. I was only referring to the OP's coop in question in my initial post. I can't tell what's holding the top edge of the HC. If staples, seems like the combination of that and being secured on the inside could be pushed in. Easily remedied with some screws and washers or trim. But, I definitely agree. If it works for you, it works. I was just trying to point out an area I might reinforce.

 

[ivajunebug]

I use Lino on the floors of my coops to protect the wood.
Very easy to put in and replace.
It also makes it easier to clean out the coops as the bedding doesn't get stuck to the wood.

We also built a chicken. On the floor we first painted it with outdoor deck paint 2 times. Then for more protection we went to the farm store and purchased stall mats. This has worked out well for us. Easy to clean...

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I am just finishing up a homemade 3x7 rooster coop, but for our main coop, we bought an 8x16 shed and modified it. It was custom made locally and they helped a lot: cutting window holes, covering doors with wire for increased ventilation (Oklahoma gets HOT!), putting in a reflective barrier under the roof, installing 2 ft elevated so chooks have a cooler summer hangout. It’s still not enough for summer - coop is running 5-10 degrees warmer than ambient in summer. Solar ventilation fan is planned solution... It was about $1800 and I don’t think we could have built it ourselves for that! We painted the interior, added roosts and nest boxes, window coverings etc. It sounds to me that your price is in line with normal market values; a poultry hobby can be pricey!

 

[Ghosty]

We also built a chicken. On the floor we first painted it with outdoor deck paint 2 times. Then for more protection we went to the farm store and purchased stall mats. This has worked out well for us. Easy to clean...

I also use stall mats on top of a foot of pea gravel for my outside dog pen. It makes an excellent floor that can be sprayed off, stays quite clean without soap, and it drains and dries very well. I also give them stall mats to lay on in the shop for winter. I tried straw and Timothy grass bedding, and I like the stall mats much better.

 

[aart]

Cannot imagine trying move stall mats to clean them....and the floor underneath.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I also wish that it was set a little higher off the ground (it's 8 inches), would be nice if there was room for the chickens to run underneath for shade or protection from the rain.

I put my Large EZ coop on 8" cement blocks. . I leveled the ground and the blocks. I used 3 blocks on each end.
It went through winter here without movement.
Your coop is lower, maybe 12" blocks?
By the way, the Large Over EZ coop inside floor space is 6' x 3' 9". Not including nest boxes. 22.5 square feet. . . I've got 7 Barred Rocks in it. GC

 

[Chickassan]

I just thompson's water sealed the floors, less stinky than blackjack and waaaay less cure time too.
I can just hose the floor a couple times a year if needed no problems.