Pullet coop bottom

[dustin1025]

Hello. I am making a coop for my chicks to go outside in until they can join the older chickens. It’s just a simple PVC frame 3X8ft. I am using hardware cloth on the top and sides. Should I just use hardware cloth on the bottom as well? I was thinking the poop wouldn’t pass through the wire as well or it would restrict too much access to the grass and all. Any suggestions? Something else for the bottom? Thank you.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Hello. I am making a coop for my chicks to go outside in until they can join the older chickens. It’s just a simple PVC frame 3X8ft. I am using hardware cloth on the top and sides. Should I just use hardware cloth on the bottom as well? I was thinking the poop wouldn’t pass through the wire as well or it would restrict too much access to the grass and all. Any suggestions? Something else for the bottom? Thank you.

Hey there! I am thinking about doing something similar! I am not planning to put a bottom on mine, but if you are worried about predators digging under than I would add a bottom.

Mine is going to mostly be for just daytime use, but if you are using it at night then I would add a bottom imo, but I do have a LOT of predators by me! And maybe stake it down, unless you are planning to move it around like a chicken tractor?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Hello. I am making a coop for my chicks to go outside in until they can join the older chickens. It’s just a simple PVC frame 3X8ft. I am using hardware cloth on the top and sides. Should I just use hardware cloth on the bottom as well? I was thinking the poop wouldn’t pass through the wire as well or it would restrict too much access to the grass and all. Any suggestions? Something else for the bottom? Thank you.

This sounds interesting. How do you plan to fasten the hwc to the pvc?

As to your question, how long (days? Weeks?) will the chicks be in this coop/ tractor? My concern is how uncomfortable or damaging the hwc will be on their little feet. My other concern is how lightweight this coop will be, and subject to predators flipping it over, which would be disastrous for the chicks if it had no bottom at all. You'd have to secure it to the ground somehow.

So there you have it. Six of one vs half a dozen of the other. I'm not sure what I would do. Actually, yes I am. I'd go with no bottom. But I have a secure back yard with dogs that do sentry duty. They'd be safe in this coop during the day (I'd have to provide shade), and I'd put them in an enclosed, secure shed at night, like a little Rubbermaid storage shed or TuffShed.

Hope you'll post pics of both your build as you go, and the finished project! Good luck and have fun!

 

[dustin1025]

Hey there! I am thinking about doing something similar! I am not planning to put a bottom on mine, but if you are worried about predators digging under than I would add a bottom.

Mine is going to mostly be for just daytime use, but if you are using it at night then I would add a bottom imo, but I do have a LOT of predators by me! And maybe stake it down, unless you are planning to move it around like a chicken tracto

Hey there! I am thinking about doing something similar! I am not planning to put a bottom on mine, but if you are worried about predators digging under than I would add a bottom.

Mine is going to mostly be for just daytime use, but if you are using it at night then I would add a bottom imo, but I do have a LOT of predators by me! And maybe stake it down, unless you are planning to move it around like a chicken tractor?

Hey there! I am thinking about doing something similar! I am not planning to put a bottom on mine, but if you are worried about predators digging under than I would add a bottom.

Mine is going to mostly be for just daytime use, but if you are using it at night then I would add a bottom imo, but I do have a LOT of predators by me! And maybe stake it down, unless you are planning to move it around like a chicken tractor?

I am worried about something digging under it. I was thinking about maybe putting a dog carrier in there in hopes they fall asleep in it and I can just carry them to the porch? Right now I am thinking it might be nice to move around. It’s just 3 chicks. I will probably use it again in the future.

 

[dustin1025]

This sounds interesting. How do you plan to fasten the hwc to the pvc?

As to your question, how long (days? Weeks?) will the chicks be in this coop/ tractor? My concern is how uncomfortable or damaging the hwc will be on their little feet. My other concern is how lightweight this coop will be, and subject to predators flipping it over, which would be disastrous for the chicks if it had no bottom at all. You'd have to secure it to the ground somehow.

So there you have it. Six of one vs half a dozen of the other. I'm not sure what I would do. Actually, yes I am. I'd go with no bottom. But I have a secure back yard with dogs that do sentry duty. They'd be safe in this coop during the day (I'd have to provide shade), and I'd put them in an enclosed, secure shed at night, like a little Rubbermaid storage shed or TuffShed.

Hope you'll post pics of both your build as you go, and the finished project! Good luck and have fun!

Thank you! I was thinking of just using zip ties to fasten it to the frame. I already have the frame together. I was worried about their feet as well. I was thinking about putting a dog carrier in there and they might fall asleep in that, and I could carry them in for the night.

 

[3KillerBs]

An anti-dig skirt would be better than a wire bottom, which is hard on the feet and which is likely to collect poop.

A lightweight frame will need to be firmly staked down.

This is what I did for my recent integration: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/mini-coop-or-integration-pen-from-a-large-dog-crate.76593/

It's inside my run so I didn't have to worry about a predator-proof build.

 

[jreardon1918]

Hello. I am making a coop for my chicks to go outside in until they can join the older chickens. It’s just a simple PVC frame 3X8ft. I am using hardware cloth on the top and sides. Should I just use hardware cloth on the bottom as well? I was thinking the poop wouldn’t pass through the wire as well or it would restrict too much access to the grass and all. Any suggestions? Something else for the bottom? Thank you.

Is there room to place this structure in the run. Then your chicks are safely introduced to the big girls. That also allows you to have no bottom.

 

[dustin1025]

Is there room to place this structure in the run. Then your chicks are safely introduced to the big girls. That also allows you to have no bottom.

I don’t use a run. They free range. I only lock them in the coop at night. Their temporary coop would have to protect against fox/raccoons at night.

 

[aart]

I was thinking the poop wouldn’t pass through the wire as well or it would restrict too much access to the grass and all.

Yes to both....and it would be hard on their feet.

 

[3KillerBs]

I don’t use a run. They free range. I only lock them in the coop at night. Their temporary coop would have to protect against fox/raccoons at night.

Then you need a more serious structure than wire ziptied to PVC. Or some electric poultry netting to create a safe space for a light pen.

This is my Outdoor Brooder: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/run-to-outdoor-brooder-conversion.76634/