Wooden playhouse to coop conversion floor issues

[Midnightchicken]

This is our first coop. In theory, the old playhouse would make a great coop. We covered all openings with hardware cloth. It has a solid roof. My problem is the flooring. It is wood plank just like the front deck. We live in Florida so once a day all summer we will have a brief monsoon. The rain will blow sideways and that entire front wall will let in lots of water. The chickens do have a dry space they can retreat to. My concern is care for the floor. I put down a thin underlayment (Lauan). Then a layer of play-sand topped with pine shavings. The coop is 5 feet from the house. We poop scoop everyday.I would prefer to leave the openings for ventilation and aesthetics. I’m concerned that the floor will retain dampness and not be a safe and clean area for the chickens...and possibly rot the wood. We have considered removing the underlayment and putting large shavings directly on the wood, then adding a sand bathing area in a shallow plastic bin. Thoughts?

 

[Brookwood Coop]

View attachment 2106907
This is our first coop. In theory, the old playhouse would make a great coop. We covered all openings with hardware cloth. It has a solid roof. My problem is the flooring. It is wood plank just like the front deck. We live in Florida so once a day all summer we will have a brief monsoon. The rain will blow sideways and that entire front wall will let in lots of water. The chickens do have a dry space they can retreat to. My concern is care for the floor. I put down a thin underlayment (Lauan). Then a layer of play-sand topped with pine shavings. The coop is 5 feet from the house. We poop scoop everyday.I would prefer to leave the openings for ventilation and aesthetics. I’m concerned that the floor will retain dampness and not be a safe and clean area for the chickens...and possibly rot the wood. We have considered removing the underlayment and putting large shavings directly on the wood, then adding a sand bathing area in a shallow plastic bin. Thoughts?

View attachment 2106907
This is our first coop. In theory, the old playhouse would make a great coop. We covered all openings with hardware cloth. It has a solid roof. My problem is the flooring. It is wood plank just like the front deck. We live in Florida so once a day all summer we will have a brief monsoon. The rain will blow sideways and that entire front wall will let in lots of water. The chickens do have a dry space they can retreat to. My concern is care for the floor. I put down a thin underlayment (Lauan). Then a layer of play-sand topped with pine shavings. The coop is 5 feet from the house. We poop scoop everyday.I would prefer to leave the openings for ventilation and aesthetics. I’m concerned that the floor will retain dampness and not be a safe and clean area for the chickens...and possibly rot the wood. We have considered removing the underlayment and putting large shavings directly on the wood, then adding a sand bathing area in a shallow plastic bin. Thoughts?

We have rubber sheeting on the floor of our coop for easy cleaning and protecting the wood, but also don’t have the rain issue to soak the bedding. Wet shavings will be bad.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Are you on sand? Sand drains really easily. You might consider taking the floor out and using the soil as your floor. Maybe haul in some sand to raise the floor level so it does drain. No type of bedding at all other than sand. And no floor other than sand.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I really love that structure, great choice for a hot climate. Could you possibly cover up the front where the water blows in when you have a monsoon on the way? Use some shower curtains or tarps hooked up with bungees or tie downs or maybe even magnets to keep it all in place, and then remove it once the storm has blown by.