What is the best method for cement floor coop?

[nikkisimon0915]

We converted an old barn style shed into our coop. The front and back have framing with hardware cloth. We removed the walls and replaced the door with a screen door because it gets very hot in florida without air flow. The problem is that when we get a heavy rain or storm the water blows in and gets the pine bedding soaked, because it is a concrete floor this moisture has nowhere to go so I am forced to clean out the coop and start all over. My question: Is there a better bedding choice for our situation? The coop is 10ft by 10 ft and there are currently 20 chickens and 3 ducks. 10 of the chicken will be processed in a month. Any advice??

 

[Chick Charm]

Do you still have the wall materials to put back up? If you have it maybe installing it halfway up. Kinda like a dutch door only it would be a wall that still facilitates air flow. And maybe cover the bottom part of the screen door with a heavy duty plastic.

Or maybe put sand on the floor. However the water will travel through the sand to your wall unless you have protection from the rain.

Just thinkin out loud for your situation.

Wish ya the best.

 

[nikkisimon0915]

I will be putting the half walls back up for the winter, but they will not keep the rain out. Im not worried about the walls getting wet, im just tired of the pine bedding becoming a mucky, slick mess every time it rains. I was thinking of trying sand if it would be any better. Just dont want to waste all that money if I will just have the same problem.

 

[Chick Charm]

I here ya about wasting money. I think sand would be better for ya. There is no need to replace it when it gets wet. Pine shavings can get expensive if you have to replace them very often.

 

[nikkisimon0915]

Thats what I was thinking. The shavings cost about $7.00 which isnt bad, but when i have to replace them every time it rains. I figured sand has to be cheaper in the long run. Not to mention less work than scooping everything out every couple of weeks.

 

[ilovemy7chicken]

You don't want your coop to be wet. Having a screen door is offering no protection to the elements. I would put the door back on and cut windows in it. Nail stainless wire screen to the openings. You can make smaller openings to your shed for cross ventilation and screen wire those too. You can make a cheap canopy, overhang, small roof over the door so the water doesn't come in. Or you can do nothing and simply use a tarp and some rocks and throw it over that side of your shed during a storm. If your floor is still getting wet I would raise the floor. It's simple enough to do and your birds will be healthier. Sand is good for the run but not for inside the coop.

 

[cknkids]

how about a picture... I'm thinking your coop and run are open and combined since your in Florida.
here's ours, we use sand on the bottom of the run and it works well when it rains. We're in S. CA.

 

[nikkisimon0915]

When it rains the ends of the coop get wet, but the roost and center of the room stay nice and dry. The chickens aren't getting wet, just the floor. But when the bedding in these areas get wet the bedding just sucks all the water up and the whole floor ends up a soggy, slick mess. Thanks for the advice on closing everything off, but I designed the coop this way and other than the bedding soaking up water and not drying out, I have enjoyed the design. I have seen several coop designs on here where people are using low dust river sand. I believe we will try the sand method before we change the coop design. We don't have a run, the chickens and ducks free range in our fenced yard during the day and stay in the coop at night or in bad weather.

 

[Hessifit]

When it rains the ends of the coop get wet, but the roost and center of the room stay nice and dry. The chickens aren't getting wet, just the floor. But when the bedding in these areas get wet the bedding just sucks all the water up and the whole floor ends up a soggy, slick mess. Thanks for the advice on closing everything off, but I designed the coop this way and other than the bedding soaking up water and not drying out, I have enjoyed the design. I have seen several coop designs on here where people are using low dust river sand. I believe we will try the sand method before we change the coop design. We don't have a run, the chickens and ducks free range in our fenced yard during the day and stay in the coop at night or in bad weather.

I live in Louisiana and am considering switching to sand for the same reason. How did the sand work out?