REQUEST FOR TOP TEN COOP FEATURES

[teesquare]

Just popping in here to say DO NOT put a single door top or top devider in that you can bump your head on. OUCH!!! Also always put something on the floor that can absorb shock . When the hens jump,fly their way from a roost they can hurt themsleves on a slick floor. I had one break its leg.
Large hens do roost. The English orps do.! All my hens roost but I do not have silkies. I understand they would only like a low one for sure. If you get pdz or some other brand make sure it is granular and not a powder. The dust will be terrible if you don't. Gloria Jean

Thanks Gloria Jean! Good adice I am sure - BTW
We are neighbors. I am in Brevard.
T

 

[crazyhen]

Joletabey is in Canton too. there are several of us fairly close. Speckled Hen just below Murphy. Just a bit to far for all of us to get together well. Gloria Jean

 

[teesquare]

Well - maybe one day we can pick a "central" kind of place to gather up and cackle and crow a bit

!

T

 

[littlecritters]

I like it!  Do you still use shavings on the floor? Or are you changing to the PDZ there also?
Thanks!
T

We will be using PDZ on the poop boards and shavings on the floor. Fresh shavings smell so nice and they will help insulate the coop in winter. We also have a heavy duty brown plastic tarp stapled to the floor. It has been there for many years and has held up really well. Easy to sweep, hose down, etc and can be quickly removed and replaced at low cost.
Tina

 

[teesquare]

Quote: A tarp - eh...? Sounds like an easy solution. And - I understand about the pleasant smell of the shavings. Insulation will not be the problem for me - but I an see the value of shavings at reducing drafts and adding a bit of insulation for sure!

There are so many varied opinions on how long the thick layer of shavings will last, and whether it or sand is the better media....I am thinking of a base ayer of DRY clean sand, then PDZ, then the shavings....thoughts?

 

[littlecritters]

I haven't had any experience using sand, but from what I understand...the smell gets intense. The tarp was originally installed when we used our shed as a rabbitry. My hubby installed it quickly and it was much cheaper than vinyl flooring. Good luck and please post pics of your project.
Tina

 

[teesquare]

Thanks for your help and input! Will continue the reading for a bit - but will build soon and - post lots of pics!
T

 

[bradselig]

I turned my 10x16 shed into a 10x10 coop (the other 6x10 is storage). My dad got me a big rubber mat that is actually used for industrial roofing that I placed on the floor. I use a mix of pine shavings and PDZ. I have 25 chickens and 2 ducks and those ducks make a mess. I usually scoop out and replace 1-2 feed bags (reusing the plastic bags the feed come in) of shavings due to the ducks spilling the water. But my brother and his wife stopped over and could not believe how great my coop smelled compared to theirs (we have had chickens the same amount of time and moved them to the coop the same week). I feel the PDZ has REALLY helped maintain the odors. I will also take a rack and move all the bedding around about every 2 days.

 

[teesquare]

I turned my 10x16 shed into a 10x10 coop (the other 6x10 is storage). My dad got me a big rubber mat that is actually used for industrial roofing that I placed on the floor. I use a mix of pine shavings and PDZ. I have 25 chickens and 2 ducks and those ducks make a mess. I usually scoop out and replace 1-2 feed bags (reusing the plastic bags the feed come in) of shavings due to the ducks spilling the water. But my brother and his wife stopped over and could not believe how great my coop smelled compared to theirs (we have had chickens the same amount of time and moved them to the coop the same week). I feel the PDZ has REALLY helped maintain the odors. I will also take a rack and move all the bedding around about every 2 days.

Great! Are you using the PDZ powder or granules?

 

[bradselig]

Great! Are you using the PDZ powder or granules?

I am using the granules, purchased from TSC.