Want to build floor for pre-fab coop.

[Lisa G.]

Hi - I have a prefab coop that I need to raise off the ground as chicken who refuses to go up into roost. First of all - i know - prefabs suck. I have an amazing beautiful $$$$$ coop that holds my 12 girls. But I have a few bantams that can't run with the big girls and my wallet couldn't afford buying another amish coop. So I purchased a prefab combo coop.

Here's my quandry. I want to raise the coop up on cinder blocks or something similar so that rain doesn't seep into run area. What is best to set the coop directly on? I know pressure treated wood not great. I would l love something that i could actually put some soil on top off and then bedding so the little ones can scratch around a bit when they are confined. Here is link to picture of coop so you get an idea: https://www.urbannorthern.com/colle...ed-w-white-accent-ready-to-ship-late-february


Currently i have hardware cloth on the bottom of coop but would love to be able to get rid of that.

Thanks in advance!

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Hi - I have a prefab coop that I need to raise off the ground as chicken who refuses to go up into roost. First of all - i know - prefabs suck. I have an amazing beautiful $$$$$ coop that holds my 12 girls. But I have a few bantams that can't run with the big girls and my wallet couldn't afford buying another amish coop. So I purchased a prefab combo coop.

Here's my quandry. I want to raise the coop up on cinder blocks or something similar so that rain doesn't seep into run area. What is best to set the coop directly on? I know pressure treated wood not great. I would l love something that i could actually put some soil on top off and then bedding so the little ones can scratch around a bit when they are confined. Here is link to picture of coop so you get an idea: https://www.urbannorthern.com/colle...ed-w-white-accent-ready-to-ship-late-february


Currently i have hardware cloth on the bottom of coop but would love to be able to get rid of that.

Thanks in advance!

Why don’t you use plywood and put a sheet of linoleum on top of it and then you could put a couple of inches of sand on that and you wouldn’t have to worry about the wood getting wet. That’s what I have did in my coop and it’s really easy to keep clean.

 

[cmom]

Originally I didn't use pressure treated wood because everyone kept telling me it was bad. I have a friend who built his coop out of pressure treated wood and it's great. Now I use the pressure treated wood and have had no issues with my birds. I have had to replace much of the old untreated wood. Some of the coops now have metal but some are still wood. Shut the birds in the coop for a few days and let them get used to it. Personally I wouldn't put anything under but if you want to raise it up, put some blocks under it then dig a trench around the perimeter and bury some wire deep enough to discourage any predators from trying to dig under it. Just my opinion. Good luck and have fun...

 

[Lisa G.]

thanks so much. I need to raise it up due to the fact it keeps getting flooded (along with my yard - ack!)

 

[Lisa G.]

Why don’t you use plywood and put a sheet of linoleum on top of it and then you could put a couple of inches of sand on that and you wouldn’t have to worry about the wood getting wet. That’s what I have did in my coop and it’s really easy to keep clean.

what kind of sand did you use?

 

[cmom]

How about making it like a raised garden bed with some blocks and put the coop on top and fill in with sand you can get at a nursery. It would give the birds a dust bath and rake it out now and then. Probably most of the poop will be under the roosts. You could put wire under the blocks to deter any predator diggers and some rebar inside the blocks to keep them from shifting. Here is a real rough sketch. I have a couple of coops that have the ramp into the coop. I put treats up on the ramp and the birds follow the treats up into the coop.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

what kind of sand did you use?

Washed construction sand.

 

[aart]

thanks so much. I need to raise it up due to the fact it keeps getting flooded (along with my yard - ack!)

Is there any way to alleviate the flooding away from that area....gutters, trenches, swales, berms??

 

[Northern Flights]

Vinyl flooring is wonderful stuff as long as one doesn't forget its there when cleaning old litter media. Old used stuff would work just fine, unless your hens like to wax the floor for guests. You could use cinder blocks to support a sheet of osb or plywood, again good used is fine, as long as it's at least 3/4 thick and bond the vinyl on top with a slight wrap -- or all around. I'd say 9 cinder blocks should suffice, or more? The load wil be distributed around the outside of the floor so joists are optional, as long as the blocks are spaced in the centre as well. Just don't go too nuts with the dirt or whatever.

The more blocks you use the less prone to sinkage it will be. And sorry for saying sinkage in front of the children.

 

[Lisa G.]

How about making it like a raised garden bed with some blocks and put the coop on top and fill in with sand you can get at a nursery. It would give the birds a dust bath and rake it out now and then. Probably most of the poop will be under the roosts. You could put wire under the blocks to deter any predator diggers and some rebar inside the blocks to keep them from shifting. Here is a real rough sketch. I have a couple of coops that have the ramp into the coop. I put treats up on the ramp and the birds follow the treats up into the coop.

View attachment 1871744

Amazing! This is almost exactly what i am gonna do!