Upgrading a dirt floor for coop

[ChattyChickens4Life]

I think maybe all of us have a touch of ocd when it comes to our birds

Yep!

 

[ChickNanny13]

I considered sand when researching until a member clued me in....He/she knew our weather here recommended DLM. Sand gets wet = heavy & how to dispose of when needing/wanting to. DLM with shavings (wood/pine not cedar), I never remove & just keep adding. When I do need to fill low spots in my yard, I just shovel what I need & add more shavings, others use for compost piles and/or gardens...Decomposes.

You need to decide which will work best for you.

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

I considered sand when researching until a member clued me in....He/she knew our weather here recommended DLM. Sand gets wet = heavy & how to dispose of when needing/wanting to. DLM with shavings (wood/pine not cedar), I never remove & just keep adding. When I do need to fill low spots in my yard, I just shovel what I need & add more shavings, others use for compost piles and/or gardens...Decomposes.

You need to decide which will work best for you.

Yes, sand is very heavy, But when it comes time to switch it out, it can be washed, dryed, and re-used!

 

[pennyJo1960]

it is your choice and I have always said opinions are like butt holes we all have one some smell worse than others go with what pleases you

 

[aart]

I am looking to convert a stall in our barn to a coop, and am seeking advice on the existing dirt floor. I feel like I have a handle on everything else as I've kept chickens before (wood with straw bedding) but I am really not sure how to approach the dirt floor. Loose, powdery dirt that will at least need to be tamped before I can do anything with it. Internet ideas have left me with a couple directions--

a) put chicken wire down to keep out burrowing predators and then deep bedding (Is this sanitary long term?)
b) laying down some type of wood flooring, whether plywood or planks. (But what is the best way to put down wood on that dirt floor? Do I need to frame and then put gravel?)
c) option b + lay rubber mat, or vinyl, etc on top of the wood
d) Pour concrete (I have never done this and don't really want to, but didn't want to leave it off the list.)

Thoughts? Other ideas? Project needs to be DIY and needs to be done quickly. I had ordered chicks via mail and they arrived FOUR weeks earlier then I expected. So I need to work quickly...they are two and a half weeks already.

Any advice is appreciated!!

Welcome to BYC!
Knowing your climate would help.
Putting your general geographic location in your profile can really help improve the answers and suggestions you get...tho it might not really apply to this particular question.
Also seeing some pics of the stall and surrounding area would help too.
Is the area dry...no water run off seeping into stall?

Burying mesh under the dirt where chickens are is risky.
It can cause injuries to their feet, it's crazy how deep they can dig, and if/when the mesh starts to rust and degrade the risk is even greater and very difficult to remediate. An apron on the outside of their area is much safer and more effective against diggers.
Here's couple examples, tho I don't recommend using 1/2" hardware cloth, 14ga 1x2 is a better choice as it will hold up much longer:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1110498/wire-around-coop#post_17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

Wood floor might be an option, typically framed(rim and cross joists under sheathing) and set over a bed of large gravel(would deter any rodents or other pests from digging up under there)...tho the apron would still be necessary IMO to keep anything for inhabiting the area between gravel and floor.

Quickest would be the apron and just put a bunch of shavings down on top of the dirt.
A poop board under your roost would make the shavings 'last' longer.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Burying mesh under the dirt where chickens are is risky.
It can cause injuries to their feet, it's crazy how deep they can dig, and if/when the mesh starts to rust and degrade the risk is even greater and very difficult to remediate. An apron on the outside of their area is much safer and more effective against diggers.

This reflects my views. For an outside apron I rely on rocks, pavers, misc items placed on the ground next to the coop and extending about 2' out.

 

[Howard E]

Perhaps patio pavers? Some come as large as 18" to 24" and would be like a faux cement floor. Plenty sturdy enough for chickens to run around on. If you bed them level and pack them tight, they should work to repel diggers and rats. Also could be used with deep litter and easy to keep clean. Also dry.

 

[kacokaco]

Thank you for the warm welcome and all the ideas! I live in WNC and it is VERY wet here. I am leaning towards the DLM but the patio pavers is a great idea too. I am used to having a coop I can disinfect twice a year so the dirt floor is new to me. We have several stalls in the barn so I think long term I will move them to one stall with DLM and then work on another to properly frame out a wood floor or lay pavers. The outside walls of the barn has the exposed foundation so I am not worried about diggers there. It is on the inside walls between stalls and in the walkway that I'm concerned about. I will look into an apron there.

Thank you again!

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've joined us

 

[Birdinhand]

I would use hardware cloth, mend with u-nails into the wood of the stall, go down 2' and then back fill. you really need to leave no gaps, no places for rats or other vermin, as dealing with them after they become a problem is 10X the work! Deep Litter Method is the way to go, think forest floor, with plenty of stuff gradually breaking down and creating interest for the chickens... they love to turn over and explore the dirt. this is how I set things up. I am toying with the idea of digging it out and pouring a concrete floor and putting a 6-12" deep litter layer on top, that way I can easily clean it out and start over periodically. so for it's worked great, about 3 years now.