[leebou]

Ok guys im new to the site and new to keeping chickens so please be easy on me.
Im looking to make a coup and large run to with a view to get some chickens in the spring.One of my concerns is what material to use for the coup floor.I have seen people use batterns with a slight gap between them and others with a solid ply floor.Most recently on a web site i saw someone using half inch wire mesh as the floor so droppings went through to outside.I wonder if this wire is ok for there feet and also worry about a nasty draught.If it is ok for there feet but not for the draught i could put a slide out tray underneath for cleaning.
What are your thoughts
Thanks for your help in advance
Lee

[Blarney]

Hi, welcome to the site, please don't worry - no question on here is viewed as a silly question.  I'm sure someone will come along soon to help, sorry I can't as I'm just a bird myself who knows very little!

My coop, purchased from ebay, has a solid floor.  I'd worry about drafts too and I find a solid floor easy to clean.

Good luck with the new venture.

[matthew2riches]

You could base an idea on an Iglu.

They have a removable tray for easy cleaning so you don't have to almost get inside the coop to hook poo out.

Do not use an open bottom.  That would be very silly and dangerous for chickens health.

Providing you clean out regularly - however you do it shouldn't be a problem.

Have fun!

[Sassy]

If you're able to fit a sliding tray - it sounds great to me

[leebou]

hi all
Thanks so much for your help i think i will go for the slide out tray.I knew that  being a carpenter  would come in handy one day.lol
Lee

[mumsy]

A 6x4 shed is the best option................then you already have room for expansion  :shock:
Large enough to get inside & sweep
If I knew when I started what I know now, its the only way to go
I'm sure all on here would agree

[leebou]

ooh now thats a thought just walk inside to clear up any mess now im thinking ?

[karlooben]

i had a old 6'4 shed an it must of been at least 15 yrs old an it did a perfect job  u can add good perches in them as well and nest boxes at the rear of the shed , u can get them cheap from anywhere now especailly a second hand one.

when i increased my number of girls i simply cut away a few panels an joined a second smaller shed which the girls loved as it was in the dark more , i ethier use straw or shavings for flooring materail.
but now i have a 8'6 shed as i have 19 girls .

[Hawkins]

We have an 8X6 shed. We have rubber matting on the floor that we recliamed from the council and shavings on top. The shed is much easier to clean out no crouching, put in some poop catching shelves underneath the perches and youre laughing.

[freda]

Hi! We bought a 6x4 shed from B+Q on Pensioners Wednesday (Mum's and dads come in handy at this golden age!) saving some money towards feed etc.
My hubby and dad put in a marine ply floor additional to floor provided, supported the underneath with chunky battons (at least 3"x3"), cut out a pop hole and drilled vent holes, installed perch and poop tray (removable for ease of cleaning - made from unwanted metal dog cage base), ramps and nest boxes (made from wooden tomato boxes from market - slide out easily for cleaning!) made sure we had very strong draw bolts on all openings, Added door across window as well as mesh and acrylic/plastic window pane to keep out cold.

We just put shavings and straw down in nest boxes and on floor and I find because of poop tray the floor litter only needs surface freshening at the weekend and a complete change about every 3-4 weeks. Mind you this may change in the warmer weather - the poop and litter may not be so pleasant in warmer weather!  

If you would like some photos, let me know.
Helen

[karlooben]

em thats preciously what i have done      ohh spooky . although i have rasied the shed partly thanks to mr rat { who i think is still in my run } i havent quite finished placing small pallets underneath one side so i am just waiting to full though it .    

[karlooben]

Hi! We bought a 6x4 shed from B+Q on Pensioners Wednesday (Mum's and dads come in handy at this golden age!) saving some money towards feed etc.
My hubby and dad put in a marine ply floor additional to floor provided, supported the underneath with chunky battons (at least 3"x3"), cut out a pop hole and drilled vent holes, installed perch and poop tray (removable for ease of cleaning - made from unwanted metal dog cage base), ramps and nest boxes (made from wooden tomato boxes from market - slide out easily for cleaning!) made sure we had very strong draw bolts on all openings, Added door across window as well as mesh and acrylic/plastic window pane to keep out cold.

We just put shavings and straw down in nest boxes and on floor and I find because of poop tray the floor litter only needs surface freshening at the weekend and a complete change about every 3-4 weeks. Mind you this may change in the warmer weather - the poop and litter may not be so pleasant in warmer weather!  

If you would like some photos, let me know.
Helen

this shed sounds like a little palace for chicks , pics please .

[freda]

will try to take some 2morrow but forecast wet! Yes ours is raised on brick platforms as we too have Mr Mrs and many generations of Rat family around - cats trying best to catch them but I think allotment, culvert and brook have a lot to answer for!
will test my ICT capacity 2morrow but don't be surprised if piccies don't land later rather than sooner!
Helen

[karlooben]

mine are on the allotments directly behind my garden and we are surronding by houses, common land with pond , cementry and gravel pits etc  so we have  tons of rats as well , i dont have a probelm with them but its other ppl i have to worry about i have a bait box in the run which the girls cant get to but at least ppl can see it an know that i am trying to sort the probelm so hopfully no one will complain to the  council.

[Hawkins]

people who moan are mingers. Lifes too short.