What do you use for the floor of your coop?

[littlelemon]

I am a newbie and I'm in the process of building my coop ( I have to also credit my dh

). We are basically building a wood framed "cage" inside of our pole barn with acces to the outside. We have much of the framing done, but I am starting to wonder about the floor-which we have already done. We put welded wire on for the floor, 1"X1", with cross beams for support. Our coop will be raised up on cement blocks, and my thinking was that the wire floor would allow droppings to fall through the floor onto pans below which could be easily cleaned. However, I am wondering if we leaped before we looked because as I browse through coop designs I notice that all coops seem to have cement, dirt or wood floors and only use wire under the roosting are. Is there a reason for this? Would the chickens not enjoy standing on wire while they are in the coop? I would hate to change the floor now, but if it is going to bother the chickens maybe I should. Any input?

 

[justusnak]

The wire flooring would be hard on thier feet, and could also cause injury, if they were to get thier toes caught in it. You can cover the wire floor with a few inches of sand/dirt.
Mine are on dirt floors...with gravel and AG lime mixed in. They get straw for the winter. No need to take the wire out...it will help predator proof the coop.

 

[cheapcheap_jeepjeep]

I have 2 coops my smaller one has a wood floor with woodchips on it, and my other is a cement floor with the woodchips. Although I am thinking of placing sand in the coops under the wood chips. but that is still in the process of thinking.

 

[firechicken]

Sorry to jump in your thread here, but how would pine straw work for bedding?
I see a lot of people here using pine shavings but have not heard anything about pine straw.

 

[Frozen Feathers]

I don't see why you couldn't use pine straw (dried pine needles for anyone going "what the heck is pine straw?), other then the fresh needles might be sticky. I used dry pine needles in my run and it seems to be fine. I think it's pricey though if you don't have your own pine trees because it's mainly used as a mulch in gardens and more time consuming to harvest then the whole tree.

 

[silkiechicken]

I use a dirt floor and have the coop movable so I can garden under it! Wire isn't good for feet.

 

[AccidentalFarm]

Your wire floor should be just fine- just throw some pine shavings in to give the birds a cushy place to walk. Of course, this kind of negates the purpose of a wire floor as the droppings won't fall through as intended. I have wire floored brooders that I use with pine shavings- they really work well and are very simple to clean up.

 

[wendy]

Quote:
i read pine straw is not good.
i personally like my dirt floor, that is all people "back in the day" used!

 

[gc tiger]

I have a rubber mat that I put hay on top of, I then wash it once a week. The mat works very well and the girls like it. I made my coop out of pallets. Very economical and very strong.

 

[AZChickenlover]

We converted an aviary with a wire floor into a coop by adding wood sides and I covered the wire on the floor with sand. It is very hot here, so I wanted lots of ventilation. When we get our monsoon rains, straw mildews, therefore the sand works for us. About twice a year, I tip the coop over, shovel out the sand for my garden, and add fresh sand.