Do-it-yourself chicken coop floor: pros and cons, what is better to do, instructions

The floor in each chicken coop can be made from different materials. It depends on the type of material whether additional insulation is needed in the future or not. Some types of floors provide comfortable care for the premises and block the collection of waste, including chicken manure.

Role and functions of sex

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

• keeps warm;
• support point for birds and allows you to comfortably move around the room;
• Protects chicken feet from damage.

Also, if there is a floor in the chicken coop, it is much easier to carry out the procedure for cleaning and replacing the litter. A properly installed floor protects birds from pests, including rodents that can spread disease.

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

1. Does not let moisture through. If the flooring is improperly constructed, water will pass through, which can contribute to the appearance of diseases in birds.
2. To be smooth without holes and cracks. Such a criterion is necessary to ensure the safety of birds while moving indoors.
3. Made of durable and safe materials - reduces the risk of toxic particles being released into the air. The life 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 keeps warm, this aspect is important in winter.

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

Features and types

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

1. From the ground - an earth cover instead of a floor is often used in a chicken coop. To keep warm, 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, first of all, it 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 it is necessary to change the bedding regularly.
2. From concrete - is a flat surface. Such a coating does not allow moisture to pass through and prevents the appearance of pests and rodents. The advantage of such a coating is durability and a long period of operation.
3. Wooden - the cover is made from boards. Such a floor is warm and does not require additional bedding. Also, the advantage of the floor is that it is easy to clean. Often linoleum is laid on a wooden floor. This additionally warms the room and reduces the risk of damage to the paws of chickens during movement.
4. Grid - this type of floor is used for comfortable room care. A mesh floor is provided so that all the waste that is on the floor can accumulate in a special tray installed under the floor.

Choosing a chicken coop floor depends on the size of the coop, as well as the type of material that will be used to build the bird housing.

The use of concrete cover is not appropriate for structures made of polycarbonate.

What better to make?

When choosing a material for the floor, not only personal preferences are taken into account, but also the type of room. For warm regions, concrete floors can be used, on which the bedding is laid. Wooden flooring has many advantages, as it retains heat well and is easy to clean from dirt.

Important. Often you can find combined flooring, such devices contain both concrete and wooden coverings.This is most often used in large chicken coops, where wooden flooring is laid in place of perches and feeders. The rest is filled with concrete. This design facilitates the process of cleaning indoors.

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

In order to independently make a coating in a chicken room, 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 house.

Tools

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

From Mesh Strong meshBeamsCrushed stoneBeams Nails Hammer Saw SawSawdust Cement mortar Latto boardRoulette

Board	Sand
Cement	Nails
Formwork bars	Pallet making

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

Instructions

There are no specific instructions for making flooring in a chicken coop. However, some recommendations for implementation must be followed:

1. In the building you need to make a foundation. Without a foundation, decking does not protect birds from the cold and pests.
2. It is necessary to make wooden logs on the foundation.
3. The floor frame is being prepared from the bars.
4. The frame should have a slope, this will help facilitate the process of cleaning the room.
5. Insulation is laid on the logs.
6. Lay a plank or pour concrete.
7. After the coating dries, it must be treated with whitewash or a special solution to reduce the risk of parasites.

If it is planned to make a mesh floor, it is necessary to pour a pillow of concrete, and a mesh is laid on top at a height of at least 30 cm on wooden supports. This coating allows, if necessary, cleaning in a short time.

Insulation rules

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

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

Important. To keep warm, the bedding layer should be at least 10 cm. This depth is enough to warm the room.

Features of coating care

To keep the birds he althy, regular litter changes every 2-3 weeks are essential. If natural bedding is used, it must be completely disposed of, regularly replaced with a new one. If fiber is used, fresh sawdust or straw must be added every month. A complete fiber replacement should be done every 3-4 months.

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

1. Earth 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 decontaminated 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 net 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 apply a special impregnation that prevents the appearance of insects that destroy the wooden coating.

Disinfection activities

Once a year, the chicken coop is completely disinfected. It is recommended that this type of cleaning be carried out at the end of summer. All padding is removed. The floor and walls are whitewashed 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 the feeders and perches are located. In such places, parasites often accumulate.Corners and bird nests are also carefully cleaned.

Perches and feeders also need to be disinfected. After the room is treated with lime, it must be thoroughly ventilated and dried. Only then is fresh bedding 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 in the process of cleaning and changing the bedding. In order to clean the building was easy, it is necessary to have 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.

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