What kind of flooring do you all have in your coops?

[chickentender1]

I started out with shaving and discovered quickly there had to be a better way. I now have sand inside and out. It's wonderful. I've got wire all around the bottom tacked down so no predators can dig in then put several layers of sand. Once you use sand you won't change back to shavings. When I rake the pen and house I shift it all through chicken wire on my wheelbarrow to save the excess sand. Amazing how much sand is thrown out if you don't. I just put the sand back in holes the chickens have dug. They especially love digging in the house where the sand is cooler.

I began to think that no one was reading this thread any more. Thank you for your reply. Did you mean that the chickens with their digging ( grit ?) create holes in the plywood floor? I guess that makes sense. Did you coat the plywood with any thing when you put it down? The newbie that I am , it seems that the chicken wire which has spacings of one inch would be sort of wide. Are the chunks of manured sand that big? When I first read read it I imagined it was the 1/4 inch mess screen style. Very interesting my dear Watson Ha ! Sorry if I am imposing on your time.
Tom

 

[EggieRowe]

I have plywood with linoleum on top, edges held down with wooden strips. Did my first clean out a couple mos ago and it was very easy to clean - what little poo made down through layers of pine shavings and DE scraped right off with a flat edge shovel. No need to wash out per se.

 

[mrstomcat]

I too had began to think no one replied. The only flooring I have in my house is sand. That's why I tacked the wire down first so no critters could dig under. When I rake the house out it is very easy. I take my wide scoop shovel and I pick up the droopings. I have some 1/8" wire (which is to small. I'll go to a bigger size next time). I stretch the wire over my wheelbarrow and take what I scooped up and sift it through the wiring. I rake my pen everyday so I also sift that. In the house where they dig in the cool sand you just level that back out by raking it smooth. I also put some stuff in my house that is actually for horse stalls. There is no odor when you use that stuff. It is cheap at my tractor supply place. Looks like salt. In the pen I spread some white powder I get at the feed store that keeps flies, snakes and odor out. In the years I've used this combination I haven't had any snakes but when the rains wash away my powder the flies come. My pen nor house has any odor. I've tried the vanilla Christmas trees and bags with water and coins but neither seem to work. I'll stick with what works for me. Good luck.

 

[chickentender1]

I have plywood with linoleum on top, edges held down with wooden strips. Did my first clean out a couple mos ago and it was very easy to clean - what little poo made down through layers of pine shavings and DE scraped right off with a flat edge shovel. No need to wash out per se.

Thanks for our imput.