Question about Flooring

[rosemarythyme]

I've read that the black one cracks easily, but that's just from one person's experience. DO you know if you can paint over that stuff? I'm not familiar. I just don't want a black floor. Lol

I will definitely look into ventilation. I was talking to my parents about what you told me and they looked at me like I had 3 heads lol like why so much for chickens. I am definitely going to do it though! Even for me it is way too warm in there and I keep the chicken doors open. I can't imagine what it would be like for the poor animals.

I've only had my new coop for a few months so I can't tell you, "Oh the black stuff won't crack," you'll have to ask me in a few years. However it's not meant to be painted over, so if you have your heart set on white and don't mind the extra cost, I don't see why the white stuff can't work, I know I've seen threads where people chose to use that instead, mostly because they didn't want black. (Though to be honest, no matter what product you choose the actual color you'll end up with is somewhere between grey and poop brown, once the chickens live in there a while!)

As far as ventilation yes, I figure if it feels stuffy to me inside a coop, how much stuffier must it be for a chicken who has to spend the whole night locked in there? Just for guidelines the recommended minimum is 1 sq ft per chicken or 10% of total floor space, whichever is greater. For me that would mean 12 sq ft minimum (that's what I built for) - so I put in over 30 sq ft of open windows and vents not including either the human or chicken doors.

 

[True Patriot]

As aart noted the paneling can give critters a place to hide. Something I hadn't thought of. (Thanks aart) If you're still interested, Lowe's or home Depot have good selection. If you have a lumber liquidators in your area they run better prices. (Search local yellow pages for "discount lumber" ). The paneling may not be on the drawing board still, but I would check them out. They'll have plenty of other things that will be helpful building.

 

[Feranix]

I had another question for everyone. I was thinking about going Solar with my coop? I was reading how you should research the amount of wattage you plan and I was wondering what you guys would estimate, since you guys already have chickens. I read that you need 250 watts for a heatlamp at least. I don't plan on doing automatic doors or anything. I just want to put some LED lights in the coop for when the nights get longer and just to see when it's dark in general, some heat pads on whatever I plan to do to water to prevent freezing and heatlamps for the brooder. I was reading a post where someone went solar, but I can't find the same solar panel. T_T Was wondering if anyone could help. I don't plan on doing a timer (yet). I just want to get basics ready and will add that stuff later.

Older post: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-solar-powered-coop.940221/