Pros and cons of floors in a chicken coop, what to use and how to make it yourself

The floor in each chicken coop can be made of different materials. It depends on the type of material whether additional insulating bedding is needed in the future or not. Some types of floors provide comfortable cleaning of the room and block the collection of waste, including chicken droppings.

Role and functions of gender

Before constructing the floor of the bird house, a foundation and pad are initially laid.Then you should make a covering from the selected material, which will act as a floor. The floor in the chicken coop has the following meaning:

• keeps warm;
• a support point for birds and allows them to move comfortably around the room;
• protects chickens' paws from damage.

Also, if there is a floor in the chicken coop, it is much easier to clean and replace the litter. A properly installed floor protects birds from pests, including rodents, which can spread disease.

When building a deck in a chicken coop, the floor must meet the following criteria:

1. Did not allow moisture to pass through. If the structure is incorrect, the flooring allows water to pass through, which can contribute to the occurrence of diseases in birds.
2. Be level without holes or cracks. This criterion is necessary to ensure the safety of birds while moving indoors.
3. Made from durable and safe materials - reduces the risk of releasing toxic particles into the air. The lifespan of the flooring depends on the strength of the material.
4. Thermal conductivity - you need to choose a material that has low thermal conductivity. This criterion retains heat; this aspect is important in winter.

If wooden material is used, it should be carefully sanded and painted. This coating protects the tree from possible damage.

Features and types

Flooring can be of various types. There are the following types of floors that can be used for a chicken coop:

1. From the earth - an earthen covering instead of a floor is often used in a chicken coop. To maintain heat, it is often necessary to additionally use straw or sawdust bedding. This type of floor is affordable and does not require investment.However, such a coating has disadvantages, the first of which should be attributed to the presence of harmful microorganisms and parasites that can appear at any time. It is also difficult to disinfect on such a floor, and the bedding must be changed regularly.
2. Made of concrete - it is a flat surface. This coating does not allow moisture to pass through and prevents the appearance of pests and rodents. The advantage of this coating is its durability and long service life.
3. Wooden - the covering is made of boards. This floor is warm and does not require additional bedding. Another advantage of the floor is that it is easy to clean. Often linoleum is laid on a wooden floor. This additionally insulates the room and reduces the risk of damage to the chickens’ paws during movement.
4. Mesh - this type of floor is used for comfortable maintenance of the room. The mesh floor is designed so that all waste that is on the floor can accumulate in a special tray installed under the floor.

The choice of flooring for a chicken coop depends on the size of the room, as well as the type of material that will be used to build the birds' housing.

The use of concrete coating is not advisable for structures made of polycarbonate.

What is better to make it from?

When choosing flooring material, not only personal preferences are taken into account, but also the type of room. For warm regions, you can use concrete floors on which bedding is laid. Wooden flooring has many advantages, as it retains heat well and is easily removed from dirt.

Important. You can often find combined flooring; such devices contain both concrete and wood flooring. This is used most often in large chicken coops, where wooden flooring is laid in the area of ​​perches and feeders. The rest is filled with concrete. This design makes cleaning the room easier.

How to make a floor in a chicken coop with your own hands?

In order to make a covering for chickens yourself, you need to prepare all the materials and tools. The list of materials depends on the type of floor and the size of the chicken room.

Tools

The list of tools depends on the type of floor. It is necessary to prepare the following types of tools needed for construction:

Additional tools may be used depending on the personal preference of the builder. A special insulating layer can be used as insulation, which also acts as protection against moisture penetration.

Instructions

There are no specific instructions for making chicken coop flooring. However, it is necessary to follow some recommendations for implementation:

1. It is necessary to make a foundation in the building. Without a foundation, the deck does not protect the birds from the cold and pests.
2. It is necessary to make wooden logs on the foundation.
3. The floor frame is prepared from the beams.
4. The frame should have a slope, this will help facilitate the process of cleaning the room.
5. Insulation is laid on the joists.
6. Lay the board or fill it with concrete.
7. After the coating has dried, it must be treated with whitewash or a special solution to reduce the risk of parasites.

If you plan to make a mesh floor, you need to pour a concrete pad, and lay the mesh on top at a height of at least 30 cm on wooden supports. This coating allows cleaning to be carried out in a short time if necessary.

Insulation rules

For insulation it is necessary to use special flooring. For this purpose bedding is used. Natural bedding made from straw or sawdust can be used. This material retains heat, but it must be removed regularly every 10-15 days.

Very often moss is used for insulation. When using sawdust, preference is given to coniferous wood material. Coniferous sawdust has a bactericidal effect. This material absorbs foreign odors and excess liquid well. A special fiber can be used that absorbs unpleasant odors and dirt. You can purchase fiber in specialized stores. Such bedding is rarely changed.

Important. To preserve heat, the layer of bedding must be at least 10 cm. This depth is sufficient to insulate the room.

Features of coating care

To maintain the health of the birds, it is necessary to regularly change the litter every 2-3 weeks. If natural litter is used, it must be completely disposed of and regularly replaced with new litter. When using fiber, fresh sawdust or straw must be added every month. A complete replacement of the fiber must be carried out every 3-4 months.

Depending on the type of floor, the following features must be observed:

1. The earthen floor must be sprinkled with a fresh layer of soil every 10 days and compacted.
2. Concrete must be sprinkled with wood ash before laying the bedding. This reduces the risk of pests.
3. Wooden flooring must be regularly disinfected with lime after changing the bedding. A layer of lime eliminates harmful insects, including fleas.
4. The mesh cover should be checked regularly for damage. The damaged section of the mesh must be replaced with a whole piece to prevent the risk of injury to the bird.

In order for the coating to serve, it is important to choose a durable material. Once a year, arrange a complete cleaning of the premises. When using wooden boards, it is necessary to use a special impregnation that prevents the appearance of insects that destroy the wooden coating.

Carrying out disinfection measures

Once a year, the chicken coop is completely disinfected. It is recommended to carry out this type of cleaning at the end of summer. All litter is removed. The floor and walls are whitened with lime.

If the chicken coop is made of polycarbonate, you must use a special disinfectant solution that will remove all bacteria and parasites. The floor covering must be treated with soda ash. Attention must be paid to the places where feeders and perches are located. Parasites most often accumulate in such places. Corners and bird nests are also carefully cleaned.

Perches and feeders also need to be disinfected. After the room has been treated with lime, it must be thoroughly ventilated and dried. Only after this is fresh litter used.

Conclusion

When building a chicken coop, it is important to think through all the details, including the flooring. Properly selected material will last a long time and will not cause trouble during the cleaning process and changing the bedding. In order to make cleaning in the building easy, it is necessary to place the floor at a slight slope.Bedding should be laid on the floor, the thickness of which depends on the number of birds and the region where the chickens are bred.