Really need a floor for the coop???

[ZooMummzy]

The coop is finally underway...kind of. We still have many steps before we actually start building it, but hubby and I cannot agree on the need for a floor. I live in the Pacific NW and I know the wood will eventually rot if it is not up off the ground, but everything is going to rot eventually here. I am trying to not only plan what will be best for the girls but also for me cleaning the coop. All the coops I have seen on here have floors. Does anyone have a dirt floor in their coop? I am going to put shavings or hay or something similar down, but I would prefer not to have an actual floor if it is not necessary. I should add that due to the location and the design of the run area, it will be very secure so no predators will be able to get in.

 

[patandchickens]

Plenty of people have dirt floors

If you have no digging predators (that includes rats), and NO chance of flooding or soggy ground, they work fine.

Pat

 

[ZooMummzy]

Thanks! I guess I have just missed those posts and pics because I have only seen floors. It was hard enough getting hubby to help build the coop in the first place. I didn't want to push my luck by asking him to put in a foundation too!

No, we do not have rats here. The neighborhood cats keep them away and my dogs keep the cats out of the yard. The coop will have a roof and the run will be sort of covered by the deck above and we will have tarps for those really bad rainstorms. I think we might good!

 

[chickenranchwife]

I just have a dirt floor in mine too. It's an old building, and would be nice to have cement but don't really need it. I just cover it in the winter time with straw and more straw. In the spring I clean it out and let it be during the summer.

 

[wynedot55]

you can have a dirt floor.an if your worried something could digg under then bury hardware cloth 4 to 6in deep.that will stop any an all digging under/into the henhouse.