Okay, we got some more work done this weekend. First, we debated about the floor. The balance between airy enough for the Florida heat and how wet the coop will get caused us to get creative. We built our coop with two sections. First, there is a mostly enclosed section with nest boxes for the layers. They will be separate from the meat chickens at all times. They even have their own door to their own yard. So, we created an area in the bigger main coop that will keep the meat chickens dry as well. But the floor is plywood (pressure treated like all the lumber used). How to treat the floor so it will take years of abuse. My husband decided to try using the type of epoxy used for garage floors. We'll let you know how it works.
Here's the overall work in progress. You can see that the laying hens door is open as well as the main door.
Here's a better look at the floor.
The laying hens area:
The dry area for the meat chickens. We still need to add their roosts and hang their food and water. Their door opening is on the left. Still need to make a door for them as well as a ramp to their future run. When we don't have meat chickens, the laying hens can use the rest of the coop during inclement weather.
This shows the main entrance and the laying hens door is also open. When it's closed, the meat chicken have the run of this well-ventilated "wet area" (storms will blow some rain in).
The nest boxes (we still need a cover and a ramp for their door).
We kicked the hens and their rooster back out to epoxy the floor. They were not happy.
"Aren't you done, yet?"
"Back in dog crate, dang it!"