Woods Style Coop floor question

[KettermanHillCoop]

My inquiry goes out to those folks that have a Woods coop.

I am having some mental blocks in regards to placement and flooring.

Raise the structure off the ground and build a floor?

Build structure ground level? Floor or no floor? Partial floor?

Pros / cons to either placement?

Thanks in advance for any insight that you offer.

 

[squadleader]

Personally, I love chicken tractors because poop becomes a non-issue. If that interest you perhaps a Woods tractor. Here's a link if you're interested, it's on this page as post number 86.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/woods-fresh-air-poultry-house.1009681/page-9

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

Thanks for the link. My coop won't be moving around. Once built it will be a permanent out-building on the property.

 

[Conan]

Mine is raised off the ground on blocks. Hardwood floor covered in linoleum. Works nicely for cleaning. Plain wood might get a bit nasty depending on how many birds, size of coop and time spent in coop.
Best of luck - let us know what you come up with!

 

[Latestarter]

You can build it elevated/off ground and put a floor in it if you choose. If that's your choice, I would cover the floor (wood) with a good sealer. I used Black Jack #57 water based rubberized roof sealant from Lowes.

If you decide to go with an earth floor, (which I think is ideal) you can do a deep litter method and compost in place and then dig it out for garden use or to add to other compost to "enrich" it (high nitrate chicken poop). Just plan the structure in advance to allow easy ingress/egress for a wheel barrow or cart (or front end loader if your structure will be large enough - auto garage door? ).

 

[Latestarter]

ETA, when I built my last coops, they were elevated and I made floor level hatches (doors) that opened to the outside. I could wheel a barrow up under the opening and shovel from inside, through the hatch to outside, and right into the barrow. I also used the DLM inside the coops

 

[Howard E]

If you have no plans to move it, and if there is any chance at all of rats in your area, go cement. A#1 first choice for a whole host of reasons.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

I love my dirt floor, open airish coop but not a woods coop, linked to left.

Gary

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

If you have no plans to move it, and if there is any chance at all of rats in your area, go cement. A#1 first choice for a whole host of reasons.

Bump in the road...

I was thinking concrete... But then...chatting with my neighbor some...in regards to "The Revenuers"...I may have to pass on the concrete. "Permanent" for my purposes...but made to "look" like a portable structure. If it's a permanent structure I'll be taxed for a new structure on the property. However...if it's not a permanent structure, no tax levy.

So...I may use your bottom frame design for dragging it around even though I won't be moving it. Does that make sense?

So I'm back to my original indecision regarding flooring...and elevation...

 

[Folly's place]

Just be sure that critters can't get in from underneath, whatever you build. Also, movable will tip over in a bad storm, unless you Firmly attach it to the ground.
It's happened here twice is wind storms (not tornadoes) with three sided movable livestock sheds. Bad for chickens!
Mary