Chicken coop floors can be made from various materials such as concrete, plywood, and linoleum. The best flooring for chicken coops is safe, predator- and rodent-proof, durable, and easy to clean. Sand or straw are the best options for chicken coop floors, as they provide insulation, protection, and comfort for the chickens. Sand is easy to clean and can be used to seal up cracks and seams in wood, preventing bugs from setting up the house.
Staffing is essential for chicken houses, as it provides insulation, insulation, and protection against pests like rodents and mites. Straw is a great bedding option for chickens, providing cushioning, nesting material, and promoting natural foraging. Some people use sand for the floor and straw for the nesting boxes. The floor should be solid and protect the chickens from predators.
Several flooring materials are suitable for chicken coops, including wood shavings and straw, which are great when used as bedding. However, when used in an uncovered run, wood shavings and straw can be used for ruminant animal feed. Other options include wood pellet beading, coffee ground beading, corn cob beading, strong galvanized or stainless steel aviary mesh, concrete pavers, and wooden boards.
When choosing flooring for your chicken coop, consider factors such as cost, durability, cleanliness, comfort, and the ability to fend off predators. Vinyl, marmoleum, or linoleum flooring are excellent choices, as they are exceptionally durable and can be a step up from painting the floor.
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| 8 chicken coop floor options: The best flooring materials for … | Make sure your concrete is covered in a thick layer of bedding to prevent your chickens from getting too cold. You may even want to consider the … | thefeatherbrain.com |
| Chicken Coop – Material for floor in coop | Dont do plexiglass or wire on a floor or even stones. The only thing that should be in the ground is a predator net on the outside of your coop. | reddit.com |
| Ultimate Guide to Chicken Coop Flooring | Avoid flooring with lots of cracks or crevices such as dirt or wood/plywood that can harbor pests. | thehomesteadingrd.com |
📹 The BEST Chicken Bedding for YOUR Flock
Henlo! I am The President of Chickenlandia and I want to welcome you to Chickenlandia, a magical place where my pet chickens …
Are Wood Floors Good For Chicken Coops?
Solid wood boards are a favored flooring material for chicken coops due to their durability against predators and long-lasting characteristics. However, wood can decay over time, especially in damp environments or when in direct contact with soil. Alternative flooring options for chicken coops include concrete, plywood, and linoleum. An ideal chicken coop floor should be safe, predator- and rodent-proof, durable, and easy to clean. While wooden floors provide comfort for chickens and a barrier against predators, they require proper maintenance to prevent rot and can complicate cleaning.
When selecting flooring for a chicken coop, consider factors such as climate and environmental conditions. Some materials suit warmer, drier climates, while others are better for cooler, humid areas. Concrete is often deemed the best material for chicken coop floors, offering superior durability and predator resistance. However, wood is the most commonly used, creating an inviting atmosphere and being relatively straightforward to construct.
Wooden floors, whether plywood, tongue-and-groove, or similar, are affordable, widely available, and easy to install. Their breathable nature helps manage moisture, but wood's porousness can complicate cleaning, as droppings and bedding often accumulate between the boards. Regular upkeep is essential to extend the lifespan of wooden floors.
Despite their aesthetic appeal and ease of installation, wooden floors can be challenging to maintain. Plywood, being an alternative to traditional wood, is also a strong contender for flooring due to its durability. Ultimately, using a deep bed of wood chips is beneficial for chicken health and can assist in composting, emphasizing the significance of choosing the right flooring material for optimal coop conditions.
Should I Put Straw On The Floor Of My Chicken Coop?
Straw serves as an ideal bedding option for chicken coops, being dry, soft, and easy to manage. It offers comfort for the chickens and protection for eggs when placed in nesting boxes. If there are chicks, the straw can be replaced daily due to their frequent droppings. When considering what to place on the floor of a coop, factors such as cost, durability, and cleanliness come into play. For those with bales of straw, using a heavy-duty shovel or snow shovel can make spreading it in larger coops easier. On the other hand, bags of straw can be emptied directly into the coop or spread manually.
Straw and sand are both recommended materials for coop flooring, with the choice depending on specific needs. Many chicken keepers prefer straw or hay as bedding due to their affordability and availability. However, it's important to note that hay, being livestock feed, is greener and more prone to mold and bacteria, which pose health risks to chickens. In humid climates, straw or hay can still be suitable, whereas in cold, wet areas, additional attention to drainage may be required.
When setting up the coop, a depth of about 3-6 inches of straw is recommended. The old straw can be repurposed as garden mulch when cleaning out the coop. While shavings are a viable option, straw is favored due to its insulation, low dust content, and suitability for the deep litter method, which aids in composting waste and controlling ammonia levels. Overall, straw is not only beneficial for chicken bedding but also supports their natural behaviors and keeps them healthy.
Should You Seal The Floor Of A Chicken Coop?
Sealing your chicken coop is crucial for several reasons. It helps prevent the growth of mites and small pests in wood cracks, and protects the wood from moisture-related rot. A rubber coating effectively seals the coop floor, including seams between walls and floors, making it a durable choice that withstands various weather extremes. While materials like vinyl or linoleum can have drawbacks, a friend’s experience with flex seal showed promising results, though it compromises breathability. An outdoor caulking is recommended for seams, and paint can add extra protection. Key steps to waterproof and safeguard your coop include using durable lumber, as untreated wood can decay outdoors.
For flooring, rubberized coatings are a top choice, providing long-lasting and waterproof solutions that integrate with the coop structure. Maintaining cleanliness and comfort for the chickens is also essential. Opt for solid, predator-proof materials, and consider the winter cold if using a dirt floor. Liquid Rubber products can effectively seal seams and joints in the coop. When choosing flooring, balance aspects like cost, durability, and ease of cleaning to ensure a safe and efficient environment for your chickens. Ultimately, a well-sealed floor not only protects the coop but enhances the overall health and safety of your flock.
Is Dirt Ok For Chicken Coop Floor?
For effective deep litter management in your chicken coop, an earth floor is ideal. While concrete or wooden floors can work, dirt is sufficient and can be easily maintained by scraping off the compacted top layer. However, a dirt floor may not be suitable in rainy climates, as it can become muddy and provide no protection against burrowing predators. Chickens enjoy scratching and dust bathing in the dirt, which can create holes, so be cautious when walking inside.
A solid floor is important, especially in winter, as dirt can lead to cold conditions. If considering a chicken coop, avoid a complete earth floor unless you have well-drained sandy soil. While dirt floors allow beneficial insects, they can also permit harmful pests. A combination of sand in summer and pine shavings in winter is recommended, along with materials like wood chips or straw to enhance drainage. Ultimately, a concrete floor is the best option for preventing pests and ensuring safety.
Why Do People Raise Chicken Coops Off The Ground?
Elevating your chicken coop offers numerous benefits, primarily by deterring predators and enhancing air circulation, which promotes chicken health and boosts egg production. An elevated coop simplifies cleaning and helps in identifying health issues early. Without a solid floor, ground-level coops are vulnerable to burrowing predators, making elevation a more secure option. Enhanced airflow from a raised coop minimizes disease risks and moisture buildup, crucial in damp climates where mold and bacteria can flourish.
Additionally, it provides a dry resting area for chickens and allows for easier removal of waste. Coops raised above ground also play a vital role in preventing flooding in susceptible areas and keep rodents from nesting underneath. Another advantage is the shelter it offers to free-ranging chickens, allowing them to escape from predators effectively. Some owners even use elevated coops for quarantine purposes or as shaded areas during extreme weather conditions.
The minor effort of raising the coop can save significant trouble over time, such as managing debris under the coop and ensuring easier egg collection. Ultimately, elevating your chicken coop not only provides a healthier and more comfortable environment for the birds but also streamlines maintenance and enhances overall safety.
What Is The Best Floor Covering For A Chicken Run?
Rubber is highly recommended for chicken coop flooring, especially when combined with bedding, as it helps maintain a clean, dry, and bacteria-free environment. Suitable flooring materials include concrete, plywood, and linoleum. Various options for chicken run flooring are available, such as sand, wood chippings, pea gravel, and wood shavings, with alternatives like pine needles and deep bedding from tree leaves also being effective. The deep litter method, involving organic materials like straw and dried leaves, is preferred.
Based on extensive experience, a hard-standing base (slabs or concrete) topped with absorbent materials like Aubiose or wood chips is advisable. Overall, the best materials for chicken coop floors include wood, linoleum, rubber mats, and concrete.
Do Chicken Coops Need A Ground Cover?
For chicken coops or runs that are often muddy, it's crucial to install ground covers that promote good drainage, such as gravel, sand, or wood chips. Avoid metal mesh flooring as it restricts chickens from scratching and dust bathing. While a floor is not strictly necessary for every coop, those without floors need protection against burrowing predators. A reliable ground cover keeps the area dry, safe, and comfortable for the chickens, while also being easy to clean.
If water accumulation is a concern due to seasonal rains, elevating the coop is advisable to prevent high moisture levels. The best ground covers include hardwood chippings, gravel, and grass, with sand, concrete, and wood also suitable options. Inside the coop, kiln-dried pine shavings are preferred, and utilizing the deep litter method with organic materials like straw or leaves is beneficial. Coops typically require a minimal cover above the dirt surface, as chickens don't thrive in muddy environments.
Additionally, cover can enhance nutritional benefits for trees if planted below. Lining the coop and nesting boxes with newspaper is recommended, while straw should be used cautiously due to moisture retention. Elevated coops help mitigate moisture issues, and although straw can be used in covered runs, wood chips are favored for their effectiveness. Overall, implementing proper ground covers is essential for maintaining a healthy and happy chicken flock, providing necessary shade and protection from the elements.
Can Chickens Get Mites From Straw?
Bedding material can significantly impact the health of poultry. It’s advised to avoid straw, hay, or newspaper, as these create a hospitable environment for mites and lice, which thrive in heat and dampness. Straw and hay can harbor mites in their stalk tubes and produce dust spores, while newspaper tends to absorb moisture. However, using straw from the store does not automatically introduce mites into a flock; instead, infestations often stem from new chickens or wild birds.
There are various types of mites that can affect chickens, including roost mites, which feed at night and hide during the day, and the straw itch mite (Pyemotes ventricosus), which is too small to harm chickens directly. Most mites require a living host to thrive, making it less likely for them to originate solely from straw brought in from stores. The most common source of these mites is actually wild birds and other poultry.
Providing a dust bath for your chickens year-round serves as an effective preventive measure against mite infestations. Mites, which are tiny ectoparasites related to ticks and spiders, pose potential health risks to both chickens and their caregivers. Mites can lay numerous eggs in favorable conditions, hence timely identification and intervention are crucial.
While straw can indeed attract mites, proper storage and handling can mitigate this risk. It's worth noting that shredded hemp bedding is a preferable alternative to straw as it discourages mite hiding and breeding. Keeping the coop clean is vital; droppings should be removed daily, and a thorough cleaning should occur weekly to prevent the establishment of mites and maintain chicken health.
How Do I Protect The Bottom Of My Chicken Coop?
Elevating the chicken coop deters predators like rats, skunks, and snakes, thus safeguarding eggs, chicks, and young hens. To further protect your flock, bury mesh one foot deep around the enclosure's perimeter to prevent digging. Suitable flooring materials include concrete, plywood, and linoleum—each providing safety and cleanliness while being resistant to rodents and durable. Ensuring your coop is predator-proof is crucial; using a solid floor, such as concrete, enhances protection. For those who struggle to secure chickens at night, automated chicken doors can be a practical solution.
Using half-inch hardware cloth to cover exits is highly recommended, as it is stronger than standard chicken wire. The lower section of the coop is often a vulnerable point for predators, and fully enclosing it or employing an apron of hardware cloth that extends below ground can offer additional security against digging. For those in areas with dogs, coyotes, or foxes, this precaution is essential.
Concrete flooring is preferred for its easy maintenance and ability to deter pests, while other options, like galvanized steel aviary mesh and concrete pavers, are also effective. Wooden boards require elevation to prevent rot.
Consider covering chicken runs with roofing or netting to mitigate predator access. Secure all openings, including windows, with hardware cloth rated for openings larger than ¼ inch. Finally, implementing a "bottom cap" design can enhance the safety of movable coops, ensuring a secure environment for your chickens.
What Is The Best Flooring For A Chicken Coop?
Various flooring materials are appropriate for chicken coops, including concrete, plywood, and linoleum. Ideal coop flooring is safe, predator- and rodent-proof, durable, and easy to clean, with significant variation in quality, cost, and maintenance. Proper flooring is essential for the health of chickens, keeping the coop clean, dry, and free from pests. Rankings highlight the top flooring options: 1) Wood or Plywood, 2) Linoleum, 3) Rubber Mats, and 4) Concrete.
Nontoxic linoleum is a great choice, while wooden boards need proper support. Other options include sand, wood chips, pea gravel, and straw for the run. Strong steel mesh complements concrete pavers, enhancing safety. The choice of flooring should prioritize the well-being of the flock over aesthetics.
Can You Use Chicken Wire For A Coop Floor?
It is crucial to avoid using chicken wire for the floor of a chicken coop due to its weakness and vulnerability to predators. Instead, consider using hardware cloth or heavy-duty 1/2" welded wire, which provide better security and durability. Although some contemplate using 1/2 chicken wire for easy waste management, it's advised not to place any wire mesh directly on the flooring accessible to chickens, even under bedding or dirt.
Regarding flooring options, having no floor or utilizing wood boards with rubber lining are considered the best choices. Other alternatives like wood with linoleum may have mixed results, while vinyl is generally discouraged. Effective coop flooring is vital for maintaining the health of the chickens by keeping the environment clean, dry, and pest-free. Many owners prefer hard wire cloth or welded wire, allowing droppings to fall through while ensuring that cleaning is manageable.
It’s essential to understand that standard chicken wire is not suitable as it doesn’t provide the necessary strength and protection. Furthermore, wire flooring poses additional challenges; while it may allow waste to fall through, it can be harsh on chickens' feet, especially for heavier adult birds.
In conclusion, the best practices for chicken coop flooring emphasize sturdiness and chicken welfare. Avoid wire mesh that is too thin or flexible; rather, opt for quality materials that safeguard against predators and support the health of the flock. Ultimately, wooden boards with appropriate bedding can be the most effective solution for a well-functioning chicken coop.
Should I Put A Tarp Over My Chicken Coop?
Heavy Duty Tarps serve an important function in creating a suitable environment for chickens to roost throughout the year. In warm seasons, chickens thrive in an "open air" fenced setting that promotes airflow and ventilation, keeping the chicken coop cool. While tarps may seem insignificant, they are crucial for shielding coops from drafts, helping maintain warmth and comfort. Available in various sizes, tarps can cover large coops effectively. When securing a tarp, ensure it has a slight pitch to direct water away from pooling areas, as excess water can freeze in colder climates.
Tarps, or tarpaulins, are flexible plastic sheets that are both water and airproof. They can be utilized to cover chicken runs, coops, or even areas around the house, similar to canopies that protect against rain. A well-placed tarp over a chicken coop should not completely enclose it, as coops require ventilation even in winter. Proper ventilation is key to preventing overheating and maintaining a healthy space for chickens.
While sun exposure is not an absolute necessity for coops, chickens do benefit from sunlight for overall well-being. It’s recommended to ensure they receive sunlight, which can be provided in their runs. However, using a tarp as a roof is discouraged, as it creates a greenhouse effect that can lead to excessive heat underneath.
First-time chicken owners often find tarps helpful for easier cleaning, as they reduce mud accumulation in runs and coops. Wrapping the run with clear tarps offers additional wind protection and minimizes snow drift. Overall, utilizing tarps intelligently ensures a healthy and comfortable setting for chickens, promoting better health and easier maintenance.
📹 Should You Use Sand In Your Chicken Coop?
Hi there! Welcome to The Happy Chicken Coop YouTube Channel. Today we are going to talk about using sand in your chicken …
Plug for the chickenlandia course… my high schooler and I used it for his home school poultry course. It was very well done. We both learned a lot. It was fun and my teenage son said he enjoyed it. In my opinion, the course is G rated and family friendly, but most appropriate for 8-10 year Olds and up. Definitely worth the money and an awesome addition to a homeschooling course.
My coops sit on a concrete footing. (We have every predator you could name). I fill the interior footing area with river sand about 5 inches deep. Top that with 3/4 inches of dirt. Top that with mulched bark chips. It may sound like over kill but the drainage is great and they are never wet. We’ve had a ton of rain this year. The girls are high and dry. Well done Madam President. 👏
We used wood chips in the run and pine wood shavings in the coop and nesting boxes for a while. It worked until the rain and snow for WA. It ended up turning into mud. This summer we now have sand in the run and coop (SO easy to clean and doesn’t smell! No more buying wood shavings either! We only have 7 hens though so everyday cleanup is easy) and artificial grass mats in the nesting boxes. They are easy to hose off and the hens love them! Great article!
I use pelletized bedding from TSC. A 40lb bag gets mixed with 5 gallons of water in a wheelbarrow. Wait 20 minutes and the pellets break down to a large particle saw dust. It is used for horses, goats, etc. It’s super absorbent and cheap. Poops get scooped out like a cat litter box. It can also be used in a litter box. Other chicken owners are amazed at how clean and odor free my coops are. I use artificial turf in my nesting boxes.
I do sand in my open run and deep litter on the open air coop side. Its just far too hot here in the desert to have all shavings. We have very good ventilation but we keep the sand wet when its 115°+ to keep chickens cooler. Makes for a fly mess but today the flies are gone after sprinkling it with Saturday Lime
I use shavings in my coop, hay in my nesting boxes and tree mulch in the run. We get it delivered for free from the tree companies and it works great in the run. As far as the shavings in the coop, I really like hemp the best but it’s a lot more expensive then pine, so I’m back to the pine. I’ve never used sand. I don’t want to scoop everyday either.😂 I do try to rake the bottom of the coop each morning though. Their coop is small and I don’t want them walking on poop to get to the egg boxes.
I have used varying items. I started with Pune shavings and did the deep liter method. But, in the winter we added straw on top of the shavings and build it up around the edges of the coop. We stirred it up as needed and it helped keep them warm. In the Spring we completely cleaned it all out. We tried bedding pellets but I kind of felt it got stinker faster because really there was not enough actually liquid to dissolve them. The pop was all just sitting on top. So I sprinkled some water on and it was much better. It lasted all summer with just doing a big of scooping and stirring here and there. Now that it is nearly fall I am doing a mix of shavings and pellets. In our run we have done pellets which are amazing but pricy to do the whole run. All summer we simply did grass clippings from our yard. In the winter we do straw.
To the President of Chickenlandia!!! ❤ Love your content and your knowledge. I found this article entertaining. You make me smile 😄I’m having this huge debate with my own thoughts right now for my coop. We are building it now for chickens in the spring. I’ve been researching what is best. Obviously i haven’t found a solid answer. But I’m thinking shavings/deep litter the first year and winter. If it doesn’t work like I’m expecting, then I’ll try sand. With maybe some coffee grounds for a nice aroma. I’ll probably put sand in the Run as I’m expecting it to get muddy. I live in NY so we see extremes in all weather. Ultimately, i have dreams to move to a better location so i can have all the farm critters in the world. I’m expecting chicken math to hit me hard and I’ll need more space. Haha my husband will have to keep me in check. 😂
I like using straw now. I used to use pine shavings. The straw just is so easy. Sometimes I use a combination. I do deep litter in winter. In summer I clean out the coop once a week because of flies being attracted to the poop. I’ve heard of people using dried coffee grounds which sounds interesting but seems like it would get heavy if it got wet from poop or wet feet
My answer is partially hydrated pine pellets. I have 2 prefab TS coops inside a covered 10×10 dog kennel. In the run I use pine pellets on the ground. I loved it so much that I wanted it inside my coop. Whole pellets inside the coop didn’t work for me. So I put some pellets in a bucket and added some water (don’t go crazy with water, you just want to start the process of them dissolving to create some saw dust). If you add too much water, drain out the water & add more pellets, stir it up to soak up the water. Once it’s close to how you want it (saw dust with lots of partially dissolved pellets) dump it out into a wheel barrow or wagon & set it in the sun to dry (it will feel dry, but I don’t want moisture inside my coop). Put shavings or bedding of choice in the nesting box and everywhere else put the pellet mixture. Droppings aren’t mixed in with shavings so spot cleaning is easy.
I really like the open mindedness here. I live on ten acres with many fruit trees, so I have a chipper. I use those chips for my chickens, using the deep litter method. My chicken run is on a concrete slab because we have some serious predators, and I cover the run floor with a thin layer of dirt. This dirt gets shoveled out a quarter of the run at a time.
We live in NW Florida, we started with hay in the coop and run. LOL we put so much (not knowing), the chickens were high steeping, LOL. With much less was better. We did that for a while and found it harder to clean up and lots of flies. Switched to wood flakes, better for our everyday cleaning. Once a week heavy cleaning and replenishment. Our supplier ran out of flakes, tried shavings. WOW!! so much better to clean up. during the week we clean the coop every morning, while outside with coffee. Takes 15min max. Sunday we rotate old shavings under roost and new in the walkway. We have sand in our runs, again very easy for cleaning and draining. Hope this helps someone in deciding what to use.
The only “issue” I’ve had with wood shavings was with my Japanese Bantams when they were younger. Someone ate a bit of chip and had a bloody poo, which scared me but only happened the once, never since, and whoever did it is fine now because all of my bantys are alive and well (and think they own the whole farm). My only advice would be to watch individual birds to make sure they don’t try to eat them, but I use wood shavings along with paper and straw, and so far it has worked well for my 3 coops! It’s too wet here for sand but the “garden” is their bath and it is a big pile of sand with chicken friendly plants, all for them, so I’m sure they’d love a sand substrate if I gave it to them…but I am on Team Lazy!!
I use paper towels for the first few days, then I switch to aspen shavings for the rest of the time in the brooder. My coop is crushed limestone sand/gravel and my run is soil/straw. The sand works well for my coop because it is only 4×8 and is raised 2.5 feet off the ground. I have 3 doors on each of long sides, so have full waist height reaching access to all parts of the coop.
I use hemp. It makes the coop smell wonderful. I have heard many times that you should never use cedar chips. Back in the 80s, that is all I used for my girls……and the fellas that were there, because it was free for me. Nothing ever happened to any of the chickens as far as I know….and they never had any kind of bug problem.
Fresh grass in the summer is perfect; the girls love it and you don.t have to spread it out. They do it for you! Also, a roost poop catcher board under the roost bars is perfect. I clean it every other day with a home made scraper into a bucket which can go in regular trash pickup or your garden. Got the idea from UTube! And, 8 in of pine shavings have lasted about a year with 5 hens. It gets turned every time I clean the roost board.
I use woodchips ontop of the native soil in my covered run. They & I turn it often. They can scratch for goodies, I can plant right into it for grazing frames and it makes great compost. I use pine shavings in my coop but have found a new product I’m curious to try in the coop called PittMoss. Anyone try that?
I wanna shout out to let you know the advise you suggested about how to stop my hen from being broody worked. Thank you 👍 Shes out and about and back to her ole self again. Her hen friend is so happy too. Those 2 birds are definitely good friends. Its amazing. Theyve always hung together even when they were chicks. I was so worried we were gonna lose her .
I live in Southern California was choosing to do the deep litter method kind of had a mixture of some different stuff. We’re going into heat wave so I thought it’d be better to change the sand. I hate it. I’m lazy I like to just get in and turn it over daily add dryness. Sand just looks and feels unclean
Because I’m a gardener I want compost so I’m thinking sand area and wood chips in the run and wood shavings in the. Coop. I would use straw but I don’t want to take the time to chop it up. Sand can harbor lots of mites and diseases if you aren’t careful. I’ll be making a sand pit for bathing with de and ash to keep it disease free.
my ladies do not like their nesting boxes, so we built one on the ground, and have a old pet carrier they love laying eggs in the pet carrier. I use straw and shavings in their run and chicken bedding, straw and shavings in their coop. I clean out their coop and run about every two weeks, but I rake and put down more shavings and all every three to four days, what would be the best thing to give them to cut down on the chicken feed, they are laying eggs everyday now
I have a concrete floor in my coop, and I don’t use any bedding during the warm months. I scrape and sweep it every other day to keep it clean. I also have what I call my “roost poop box” built under the roost, so none of their nighttime poop makes it to the floor. I keep Barn Dri in the poop box and scoop it every day with a litter scoop. In the winter, I use shavings on the floor, but I can’t wait until warmer weather, so that I can get it all cleaned out again.
I just watched a article on horse stall pellets. I’m thinking that’s what I’m going to use as litter in the coop, maybe the run. But it has to be hydrated first. And on her article, there was no dust, even though it breaks down to basically sawdust. Not sure on my nesting boxes yet. Still doing my research. I would definitely not use sand or hat at all.
Question – I have 10 hens and they don’t use the dust bath. They prefer to tear up the run and make it look like a Rollercoaster. I have to level every other week. I have 2 dust baths. Do I need more? Or do these girls just like to get dirty? It’s quite a chore to levels I don’t twist an ankle when I go in there.
Alfalfa is good for chickens, right? I was thinking of putting alfalfa in the run, under the coop to help keep them warm in the winter. That area would be protected by a plastic sheeting windbreak all around the base of the coop. Is this a good idea, or no? Would love some feedback on this idea. Thanks!
I’m in Southern California, I just recently switched to sand in my coop. I have a hen Marigold, who ate so much of the wood shavings, she has developed scar tissue in her crop that it has slowed down her food passing through. She’s my special girl 🤦🏼♀️. I don’t totally hate it, but yes the scooping daily can get annoying.
I’m wondering about using sand in my coop in the southern US where it’s really humid in the summer. I feel like shavings could just cause mold and need to be cleaned just as often in the summer. Right now we have an open chicken coop/tractor where the roost hangs over the open space and only have shavings up in the nest area. The new coop is bigger and roosts will be over the floor.
I am a new chicken mama this year. I live in New England. Just added sand to my Omlet Eglu Cube run after needing to put it in a permanent spot after finding out my town has a rat problem and needed to secure the area around the coop more. I am concerned about the cold winters here. The run is 75% covered. How does sand hold up in the winter time? I was thinking about adding some mulch to the top of the sand in winter but prefer not to if its not necessary but also heard sabd can be too cold for chickens in the winter. Any advice from chicken owners in MA who use sand or have chosen not to in their runs during winter?
Thanks for the info. I was thinking about doing sand but with the information you presented I am going to go with wood chips/hemp instead. I live in the south east of the US and we have seasons of very wet weather and my girls would probably end up wet for days. Besides that fact that poop scooping everyday does not sound like something I am gonna do. Thanks again.
My chickens have been in an open air hoop coop since June, and my husband is just about to finish up their permanent coop building (8×8). They have been using tree mulch from Chip Drop over the bare ground. I have added chips regularly. Everyone seems happy. I like free so I’m thinking about using the tree shavings inside on the floor of the new coop. Do people do that?
hey president I keep chickens as pets and when my hens go broody I let them hatch out their eggs. My concern is the topic of genetics, ive had my chickens since I was 15, im now 18 and I have the same chickens I started with and a few batch of new chicks. the question is is there a need to regularly replenish your flock.
Finer material like dry grinded grass clipping is better because you want carbon to compost with chicken manure the faster the better. Once its completey cycled you don have that nasty ammonia smell anymore. At the end of the day you will keep getting high quality chicken manure compost for your garden.
you make learning fun, by the way I have done the sand, I did not like it to hard to keep clean (or to wash it) easy to clean poop yes but it was heavy, I used it only on the poop board not the floors, I used shavings for a while did not like that due to dust build up and taking out ot much clean shavings to get the poop so I went with cardboard until I can figure something out, I can change it out clean it daily and just flip the board over until I need to throw it away I am using baking soda on wet spots but I am still finding to much dust/baking soda mix on the floor. and the carboard is free (delivery by amazon) lol, the boxes can be cut to spread out. the dust getting on the walls and hardware cloth of the big windows I have, I wouldnt mind sand in the run tho, that would be easy to keep the run clean of poop, and I could still wash it in the summer months with a hose. but to much money and labor to get it, so in the run I use shavings and since they free range during the warmer months, then it stays clean alot longer.
I can say with an absolute fact (for our situation)that fresh pine chips killed two of our chickens the only new thing to our flock was a chip drop of fresh pine chips and on the days that we lost the chickens it had rained And then heated up so you could see the steam coming off of the wood chips so the wood chips that were near the chicken coop or out in the run Were giving off a heavy aroma that totally negatively affected my chickens respiratory systems and we found two perfectly healthy chickens dead both near or on the chips. we originally ignorantly were scared that bird flu hit the flock or something but then after researching absolutely everything there was nothing none of them had shown any signs of literally any sickness or distress we were just finding perfectly healthy chickens dead And after some digging and ruling out everything the common denominator was freshly chipped pine chips and rain followed by sun. After finding other people online reporting that they had experienced trouble with freshly chipped pine we removed absolutely all of the wood chips from anywhere near the coop and had no problems with our last three chickens. I try to look on the positive from the situation, I found out that my city counts chickens separately from small live stock so instead of 2000 ft.² per chicken it is 1000 ft.² per chicken and we found a local family new to chicken keeping who ordered too many eggs expecting to have some casualties but instead every single one of their eggs hatched and they didn’t have a coop big enough so they picked out the ones they liked and were letting the rest fend for themselves free ranging (some were missing feathers from being attacked) until they got a new home which is now our house where they will live out the rest of their days in safety so the positive outlook is, if we hadn’t lost our two beloved chickens I probably wouldn’t have gone back and read the regulations even further which means we wouldn’t have known we could take in the 6 chickens the woman needed to find homes for and while our new chickens were bittersweet for the kids at first because my daughter Especially is still upset about buttercup, but now after earning their trust of the chickens who weren’t used to people even she’s happy we could save them.
I would like to issue a word of warning about sand in your coop. I jumped on the sand in the coop bandwagon in 2012 when we moved to a different house and coop. Within the first couple of months, we lost 5 young chickens in short order after moving them into their new coop. They weren’t sick when we moved and the only thing different we had done was use sand instead of pine shavings. I don’t have any definitive proof that the sand caused a problem, but it was odd and we never had it happen before or since we removed the sand. From our experience, sand is a not a good idea.
Sand floors of the day coop, the hen house uses wood shavings in a deep bed method. We get through a year of adding shavings and raking the poop under every day or two. The sand is amazing under the roosts with a basic prong style scoop, Cleaning is so easy. I use some play sand with natural sand from the pacific. Never have issues, the two types of sand give enough dust for them to bathe but the beach sand keeps the dust out of the air. We live in a mostly wet climate in the winter, redwoods of CA. The sand is so good for drainage on wind blown days of 2″ of downpour. If your building a coop, elevate the base level of the coop about 8″higher than any surrounding area. Lay two layers of 1/2″ heavy gage Zink wire before you build up the dirt, this will prevent predators digging through as well as gophers ruining your set up. Add your yards of soil then compact and build your structure. Good luck and love your girls!
I have been using sand in my coop for years. Maybe a couple of inches deep. I use play sand, because construction sand is about a third full of larger stones that won’t fit through the screen that I use to sift the poop out of the sand. I have had absolutely no respiratory problems with my girls. I don’t usually River sand because my yard is too small to accommodate a large pile of sand. I use straw in the run. The sand doesn’t hurt their feet in the winter because the temperature in the coop doesn’t get too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer (I use a shade cloth in warm weather)
I have 22 hens & just switched from straw to sand in the coop hoping to decrease the amt of compost & waste. It was an expensive switch. So far I see a lot of pros, but I’m concerned about the wet unscoopable poo that may be trickling down into the sand. Poo maintainance is always a chicken keeper duty no matter the flooring! 😂
I’ve been using sand in my 12’x4’run for 8 years. Just this last year I increased my chickens to 9 and find that it’s harder to keep the sand clean and smell free. Also been using pdz in the sand along with diatomaceous earth to keep the “bugs”at bay. I use coop clean in the coop. I find it would be too expensive to use coop clean in the run which is why I went with sand. I change the sand once a year but find it hard to dispose of the old used sand and it’s extremely heavy.