Questions for Woods-type Coop-ers

[Alaskan]

I know people up here who have managed to do the deep litter method/active compost pile in their coops.

The key is you have to get it hot and active before truly cold weather sets in.

I like dirt floor coops.. but...

You have to make sure you have good drainage.

If you want to keep out rodents etc.. I would do a hardware cloth skirt or border, but not line the bottom with hardware cloth.

 

[LeslieS]

I just put hardware cloth over the inside of my windows. It doesn't open or anything. I haven't found a need to yet? I operate the windows with a rod.

I just used 1/2 plywood OSB siding on mine. Inside painted white and several coats of porch paint on the wood floor. Pine shavings about 6-8 inches deep and clean it out 2-3 times a year.

Thanks! I'm in the planning stage and appreciate knowing what you used.

 

[LeslieS]

I deep litter in a subtropical climate with high humidity. Very little smell even in our very hot summer. When it got a little whiffy I added some leaf litter & extra straw. I also add the hemp bedding from the coop when I clean the nesting boxes out. That really seems to help with unwanted odours.

I like double duty too. Thanks for the input!

 

[LeslieS]

In the original design the monitor screen windows open in to allow access to the outer windows that swing out from the bottom and are intended to be open spring/summer/fall.

@cholland solution may be better (simplifies monitor screen construction/installation)? Opening the monitor windows with a rod sounds great!!

Thanks, Ted. Sounds good to me too. The easier it is, the better!

 

[LeslieS]

The inner screen windows help keep wild birds out of the coop. Over the yrs, I had a couple of sparrows come through the pop door anyway. But they were quickly evicted. I used Smartside for the sheathing for my coop. It has a 50yr guarantee. Going on 10 yrs, it looks as good as the day I installed it. Holds paint great. Can't say the same for the pine trim.

Thanks! I know the screens are needed but didn't understand why they open to the inside. Also, I will check out Smartside. Thank you very much!!!

 

[LeslieS]

I know people up here who have managed to do the deep litter method/active compost pile in their coops.

The key is you have to get it hot and active before truly cold weather sets in.

I like dirt floor coops.. but...

You have to make sure you have good drainage.

If you want to keep out rodents etc.. I would do a hardware cloth skirt or border, but not line the bottom with hardware cloth.

Wow, good to know it works up there. I would start in spring each year. We're pretty sandy here so drainage shouldn't be a problem, especially with the Woods design. Hardware cloth skirt or border in combination with railroad ties for the foundation is what I was hoping would suffice. I was also considering putting several inches of soil/sand (!) on top if I put it on the floor, but maybe only go in a foot or two, not the whole floor, now that I think about it. Thank you!

 

[Alaskan]

I don't think you need to start with the composting/deep litter in the spring.

But mid summer is a good time to start. No later than late summer.

 

[Howard E]

I have the book, love the concept, and have settled on 10 x 16 size. But I have a few questions.

First, why is it suggested to have a screen on the monitor windows that opens inward?

Second, anyone using the dirt floor with deep litter method? How's it working? I'm thinking it would provide a bit of heat for winter. I don't want to heat it (remember the Spring fire in Colorado? We're about 20 miles from where it was) and I don't want my future birds to suffer.

Any comments on flooring welcome!

Third, what have you used for siding, and did you paint or use whitewash, or anything to control mites, inside or out, etc?

Thanks, one and all!

First, if your monitor windows open out, without some type of screening, wild birds and climbing varmints, including rats, can get in through what will be a 4 to 6 inch wide opening, plus your birds can get out. I have one bird who has decided she likes roosting up there all by herself. A second screened window frame that opens in closes off the opening when the monitor windows are being held open.

Second.....my woods coop was made to be portable, so was built on 4 x 6 skids, and I left the floor as dirt. On a high and dry well drained site, with lite load of birds, it has worked well. Keep in mind, deep litter serves the same purpose as a disposable diaper. The droppings don't go away, but do get incorporated into it. With a low bird population, a bed of 4 to 8 inches of litter might buy you a lot of time. With a full load, it builds up in a hurry. What that also means is the droppings load tends to work to the bottom. Over time, the top layer of soil is going to get awfully funky. You can dig it out, but if you do, that creates a bowl type depression in your house that will collect any adjacent moisture (roof drainage for example). Then there is the issue of rats and mice, which if you do feed inside the house, any spilt feed is going through the litter to the soil layer, which will encourage vermin to set up residence down there.

If this is to be a permanent, fixed house, far, far better to have a cement floor, the top of which rises above the adjacent soil level, meaning high and dry. You can still use deep litter, but it is far more sanitary and safe from rodents. In days of old, cement floors were always the A#1 first choice for a chicken house.

I used T-111 siding. Modern era stuff is low quality, but I painted it well, so in general, has stood up. T-111 is essentially 5/8" plywood. Smart siding is 3/8" particle board. When painted, it holds up to weather. If others have found it to also be durable, then you could give it a try.

 

[cholland]

Just to be clear. I think most of us mean hardware cloth when we say screen the windows. Regular window screens will keep birds from passing through, but you need hardware cloth to protect against climbing preditors like raccoons.

 

[TelfTheElf]

i have coated the inside of my nest boxes with grey resin. it discourages mites and it is also loads neater. you do have make sure they are no sharp bits sticking out though.. it is also loads easier to pressure wash...when i do this!!