What to use in chicken coop

[amyburemt]

We bought 40 acres recently and it came with an old chicken coop. the walls are stone, and it's long and in good shape. I am researching chickens at the moment before I make the commitment for them and I was wondering what is the best thing to put down on the floor of the coop? The floor is a compacted soil right now. but I have read that people use anything from hay to sand.
Thank you!

 

[Monkeybean415]

We've tried a few things and prefer straw in the coop and run. We used pine bedding in the brooder and that worked ok when they were little but I didn't like it for the coop and I know many like sand- we didn't try it in the coop but did not like it in the run even though it's covered our climate is too wet

 

[ChickyMomm]

You could probably just keep the floor how it is. I like to use pine shavings, which help keep the coop a little warmer. Straw is also really good for retaining heat. I guess it depends on where you live and how your climate is. I've never used sand, but I'd imagine it's not that bad. Something I'd also look out for just in case is cracks in the stone, which depending on what your land is like, could lead to a flood in the coop if you don't cover it or fill it.

 

[ChickenMammX4]

Our coop floor is painted OSB, we have about 6" of pine shavings down, keeps everything dry and no odor.

 

[snow5164]

Congratulations on the acreage!!!so much work, but so much fun!!!!

We used pine shavings in the brooder and the dust was unreal!! Straw is nice , we cut a square bale in thirds with a chainsaw just to make the pieces shorter.

 

[aart]

With a soil floor in the coop look into Deep Litter Method.....depending on your climate it might work great.

Don't forget about space and ventilation.