What to put on garage floor for temporary housing

[Nicky S]

Bit of an urgent situation! I have a pretty secure run (hardwire cloth sides, underneath etc.) but today while I had my flock inside due to the snowstorm, I looked out the window and saw a mink right by the run and watched it go all the way round it, and there’s no way my run is secure enough for that. Anyway, I leave on Tuesday for a trip, and with the storm and all it would be impossible to make it secure in time (it’s large and complicated). So I have no choice but to keep everyone in the garage while I’m away as I won’t be able to sleep a wink otherwise. The garage is attached to the house, and I’m wondering what to put on the floor for poop management. It’s a concrete floor, and I don’t have anything to keep the flock contained so it’s the whole area. I was going to get Builders paper and put down newspaper on top so my chicken sitter can just fold it up each day, but I have a feeling the girls will shred it in 30 seconds. Do I put down the pine flakes I use in the run? Trying to work out what will be easiest to maintain for the sitter, won’t be a nightmare to remove after and won’t turn my actual house into a barn Just the bare floor is not an option, I have 10 birds and it is Poopageddon after one day.

 

[AntiqueB]

How big is the garage, and how many days? I'm thinking a plastic drop cloth with regular bedding on top.

 

[Nicky S]

It’s single garage - that’s a smart idea to have something underneath so I can fold it up after to take the bedding out. The run is attached to the garage so I can probably dump it out the window! Thank you!

 

[AntiqueB]

If they would eat plastic, you can use canvas, but that runs into money.

 

[nuthatched]

Plastic wrap+old sheet you don't care about

 

[Justagalwithchicks]

We have used large boxes broken down flat with pune shavings on top.

 

[fldiver97]

Tarp and shavings on top

 

[tlcmurphy]

I would just cover the floor with a tarp or flattened cardboard boxes. I wouldn’t use shavings unless you confine it to a small area.