…… Building a chicken coop

[joekan]

I've started building another chicken coop out of pallets and was looking for ideas on the flooring. In the past, I've always used 3/4" plywood but with the price so high I am looking for something cheaper. I thought of tearing off pallets and using the slats but I'm running low on pallets. Would particle board work? Whatever I use, I will put linoleum down on top. Thanks for any help.

 

[Jeff Allen]

Best of luck with your birds!

J

 

[jward]

I have concrete, and like it.
No suggestions, other to remember to factor in the variable replacement costs of the material, coz iirc even bedding a'top linolium doesn't last long, depending on # o' birds, time/area available for em to range, etc.

Doc1 just built a new coop in the last year or so, might look that up for ideas.

 

[Macgyver]

Particle board disintegrates if it rains 2 miles away.

 

[okie-carbine]

What is wrong with dirt?

 

[Satanta]

Why not just use Pallts? Assuming they have an outdoor area the coop is wjere they sleep? Not like they need a solid floor and, when it comes time, you can blow it out and pressure wash under it easilly. Use am extra pallet pulled apart to cover the forklife holes in the sides.

 

[Barry Natchitoches]

My floors are dirt, which I will put autumn leaves, straw or wood shavings on top periodically.

With piling organic matter on top from time to time, coupled with the manure that my girls add, it gets to be pretty good soil over time. In the late winter - right about now -I head in there with a rake and a shovel and dig the year’s worth of residue up, and move it into the raised beds in anticipation of planting season.

Which for me - in Zone 7 - is not too far off now.

As a matter of fact, that is what I spent this beautiful, spring-like, winter day doing. I am looking to plant my first lettuce, cabbage and broccoli transplants within the week, so it is definitely time to enrich the soil with the flooring from my henhouses.

 

[Hfcomms]

For an elevated coop particle board with linoleum would work but you would want one piece and fold over the corners or if two pieces you have to seal the seams as any moisture is going to break down the board in time. For a larger coop like mine is its just a dirt floor with bedding which works out best for cleaning.

 

[Telescope Steve]

I used 2" x 4" framing for a 8' x 8' shed. I used 2x3 for the walls. I used corrugated sheet sheets. We have bear and smaller critters who will try to eat the chickens. I have ventilation on one side away from the rain and snow. The door opens out. I laid down the steel sheets on the floor, and drilled some drainage holes so it does not stay too wet. This way the groundhogs and other critters cannot dig under the walls to get in.

 

[WalknTrot]

Don't discount moisture coming up from the ground under the floor. I doubt particle board would hold up for more than a couple years before your foot goes through it.

Treated plywood for the long haul. It's only a couple sheets, right?

 

[Greenspode]

I would not use particle board for any application that is not climate controlled and/or completely protected from moisture. It will fall apart within a year or two, at best. I would use dirt or PT plywood. You could always use hardware cloth on, or a few inches under, the dirt/limestone to keep critters from tunneling in. That is what we have done in one of our coops.

 

[West]

I want to buy one of them cheap metal car ports. 10 x 20 is only about $2000 and they set it up.

Then use the scrap wood from our old coop to build one side with nest boxes. That are accessible from the outside of coop to collect eggs.

Then two cheap and home made barn doors and have them on each end so I can drive my tractor threw it to remove all of the crap a couple times a year.

Dream coop.

 

[Publius]

Built mine out of old sheds that I dismantled all of it free and it's still standing and has enough room for 50 chickens.

 

[West]

Built mine out of old sheds that I dismantled all of it free and it's still standing and has enough room for 50 chickens.

Yeah but can you easily drive your tractor threw it to clean up the crap?

 

[joekan]

Thanks everyone for the help. I'll probably bite the bullet and use plywood. I had to raise this coop off the ground because it gets real soggy when it rains.
My other coop I'm using has a ground floor and I think that is the best way to go.

 

[Satanta]

Yeah but can you easily drive your tractor threw it to clean up the crap?

No need if you do it this way-just move it.

View: https://youtu.be/a6GIX1BuhtM

 

[Babs]

Thanks everyone for the help. I'll probably bite the bullet and use plywood. I had to raise this coop off the ground because it gets real soggy when it rains.
My other coop I'm using has a ground floor and I think that is the best way to go.

There is a roof coating product that is non-toxic to the chickens. We used that on the inside of our coop, so that we could easily spray it down. This is what we used. Apparently lots of people us it in their coops. You can find youtube vids about it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W67FMI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Luke]

There is a roof coating product that is non-toxic to the chickens. We used that on the inside of our coop, so that we could easily spray it down. This is what we used. Apparently lots of people us it in their coops. You can find youtube vids about it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W67FMI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I used that on my plywood floor coop as well. Also up each wall about two feet. Works well.

 

[thorr]

Just got to mention that if what you’re calling particle board is 3/4” tongue and groove advantech type flooring, it would be fine if not ground contact....

 

[Walrus Whisperer]

10 years later, my particleboard floor in the coop is still good. I built it 2 feet off the ground with a chicken popdoor ramp and a human ramp and door. I did have to replace the bottom chicken rampboard a couple times over 10 years. Darn thing would cup in the weather it was out in.

 

[Kennori]

I just know that chicken poop is toxic and will eat through any thing. Make your walls thick wire fencing and bury them 6 inches to stop the coyotes and foxes. cover the coop with wire fence to stop the hawks and eagles. Use a technique of covering the poop with hay every few weeks to create manure for your gardens, cuts down the odor too. Dirt floors are good but buy a cheap piece of linoleum to cover and shovel it off periodically. I keep a cheap radio playing the classical music station playing quietly in the coop it helps calm the flock. Above all maintain a presence, you are the provider of food and safety. I gather eggs every 2 days and bring them scraps from the kitchen. If you have a rooster he will attack you when he is full grown because he sees you as competition. Drop kick him as needed and he will eventually accept you as the alpha male. An old man was asked how he kept so healthy and he said he ate 2 eggs a day and it made him strong.

 

[Countrymouse]

I just know that chicken poop is toxic and will eat through any thing. Make your walls thick wire fencing and bury them 6 inches to stop the coyotes and foxes. cover the coop with wire fence to stop the hawks and eagles. Use a technique of covering the poop with hay every few weeks to create manure for your gardens, cuts down the odor too. Dirt floors are good but buy a cheap piece of linoleum to cover and shovel it off periodically. I keep a cheap radio playing the classical music station playing quietly in the coop it helps calm the flock. Above all maintain a presence, you are the provider of food and safety. I gather eggs every 2 days and bring them scraps from the kitchen. If you have a rooster he will attack you when he is full grown because he sees you as competition. Drop kick him as needed and he will eventually accept you as the alpha male. An old man was asked how he kept so healthy and he said he ate 2 eggs a day and it made him strong.

One question:

HOW did you keep mice/rats under control?

That was a continuing problem with our chicken-house / pen from the time I was a child.

A raised floor (made out of pallets, especially) would be welcomed by them as our very kindly providing them a wonderful basement apartment....

 

[rob0126]

I want to go the chicken tractor route and just move them around the yard periodically.

Our grass grows like crazy in the summer.

I just have to be concerned about predators like dogs and coyotes.

Im thinking pvc frame so its easy to move and easy on the wallet.

Any suggestions folks?

 

[Hfcomms]

I just know that chicken poop is toxic and will eat through any thing. Make your walls thick wire fencing and bury them 6 inches to stop the coyotes and foxes. cover the coop with wire fence to stop the hawks and eagles. Use a technique of covering the poop with hay every few weeks to create manure for your gardens, cuts down the odor too. Dirt floors are good but buy a cheap piece of linoleum to cover and shovel it off periodically. I keep a cheap radio playing the classical music station playing quietly in the coop it helps calm the flock. Above all maintain a presence, you are the provider of food and safety. I gather eggs every 2 days and bring them scraps from the kitchen. If you have a rooster he will attack you when he is full grown because he sees you as competition. Drop kick him as needed and he will eventually accept you as the alpha male. An old man was asked how he kept so healthy and he said he ate 2 eggs a day and it made him strong.

My rooster was too stupid to learn. I’d kick him every day and as soon as I’d turn around he would follow me back outside the coop and look for an opportunity to spur me. So, I let the Malinois deal with him. He learned to respect her and if she was around that was the only thing that would stop him. He didn’t mind getting kicked across the coop by a rubber boot but he sure despised and feared the dog.

 

[winodog]

I've started building another chicken coop out of pallets and was looking for ideas on the flooring. In the past, I've always used 3/4" plywood but with the price so high I am looking for something cheaper. I thought of tearing off pallets and using the slats but I'm running low on pallets. Would particle board work? Whatever I use, I will put linoleum down on top. Thanks for any help.

I am starting a chicken coop. Do you mind if I post pics here?
This is supposed to be one of if not the best door you can buy.

Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener | Omlet

A secure and easy to install horizontal door for your coop. With light or time settings, it can be used all year around and attaches seamlessly to your Eglu Cube or wooden house!

www.omlet.us

 

[summerthyme]

My rooster was too stupid to learn. I’d kick him every day and as soon as I’d turn around he would follow me back outside the coop and look for an opportunity to spur me. So, I let the Malinois deal with him. He learned to respect her and if she was around that was the only thing that would stop him. He didn’t mind getting kicked across the coop by a rubber boot but he sure despised and feared the dog.

Some of them never learn. We had a bantam Cochin roo (that particular breed is pretty much the epitome of aggressive and stupid roosters) who regularly went flying off the tip of a boot, until he was permanently cured when he bounced off a wall with a broken neck.

Summerthyme

 

[winodog]

Some of them never learn. We had a bantam Cochin roo (that particular breed is pretty much the epitome of aggressive and stupid roosters) who regularly went flying off the tip of a boot, until he was permanently cured when he bounced off a wall with a broken neck.

Summerthyme

Good morning Summer. Should I piggyback on this thread or start a new one. It appears we are suppose to piggyback on many subjects/posts.

 

[summerthyme]

I don't see why you can't add yours to this one...

Summerthyme

 

[winodog]

I am building a new coop with a larger run area. I am handy with masonry and have block, cement, sand and pea gravel left over from other jobs.
Dirt floor, 7x5 on the inside. Enough for ten birds comfortably.

Dug footings

 

[Old Gray Mare]

I've started building another chicken coop out of pallets and was looking for ideas on the flooring. In the past, I've always used 3/4" plywood but with the price so high I am looking for something cheaper. I thought of tearing off pallets and using the slats but I'm running low on pallets. Would particle board work? Whatever I use, I will put linoleum down on top. Thanks for any help.

Partial board doesn't do well with moisture. IMO putting it in contact with or close to the ground and covering it with chicken feces is asking for trouble. If you can find a pallet with no space between the slats would be the way to go. They turned up at our dump all the time.

Pallets on the ground will eventually rot.

One question:

HOW did you keep mice/rats under control?

Chickens eat during the day and roost at night. Keep feed in containers that keep it contained so it's not lost and wasted in the litter on the coop floor. This can also save you on the cost of feed. Keep the feed containers in a rat/mouse proof containers at night. If vermin don't have food to attract them you will have less of them to deal with.

We also used traps. Peanut butter and chicken feed made good bait.

 

[winodog]

We have been experiencing man made climate change. Freezing weather, rain, and now lots of snow. Waiting for a warm spell to lay block but I managed to pour the footings before it got bad.

 

[philkar]

I am starting a chicken coop. Do you mind if I post pics here?
This is supposed to be one of if not the best door you can buy.

Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener | Omlet

A secure and easy to install horizontal door for your coop. With light or time settings, it can be used all year around and attaches seamlessly to your Eglu Cube or wooden house!

www.omlet.us

We love this door! Been using since Sept 2022. We have lots of predators and a secure house was imperative.

 

[Bud in Fla]

Question/clarification - I keep seeing "particle board" mentioned. Actual "particle board" is basically saw dust glued together that they use to make Ikea type furniture - it's also very heavy and will swell up if you drip sweat on it.

Aspen panels/OSB (Oriented Strand Board) is used for walls/roofs. It's not good where it'll be exposed to weather, either but it's much lighter and will last (a little) longer in the weather than "particle board". It's also a lot stronger than particle board.
When you install OSB, it should be laid lengthwise across the supports. If it's placed the other direction it will eventually sag between the supports.

 

[Samuel Adams]

What is wrong with dirt?

Rats…..since you’re asking.

Concrete is the best deterrent.

Notice I did not say “absolute remedy”.

 

[Kennori]

I've had great luck with Ramik-Green pellets. They are green and smell like fish and the mice and rats can't resist. I scatter a handful on the floor in the feed storage area every time I make a batch. They are gone the next day usually. Every few days I will find a dead rodent in the corner or outside. The poison is Warfarin and they bleed out. If they die under the floor or in the walls there will be a stink for a few days. Glue traps work the first time but then the rats get smart and kick dirt on them. Snap traps are OK but after the first kill or 2 they get smart and somehow avoid setting them off. Squirrels have chewed holes in the soffet and raided the feed bags so I covered the hole with screen and set up a blind in my kids playset in the yard. Didn't have to wait long free food is irresistable and I shot them from100 feet with a scoped .22 LR.

 

[1954Parker]

Rats…..since you’re asking.

Concrete is the best deterrent.

Notice I did not say “absolute remedy”.

I made mine with thin shell concrete, using cattle panels and chicken wire it withstood huge limb impact, from our ice storm here, south of Austin.

 

[winodog]

Weather warmed up a little

 

[20Gauge]

I've started building another chicken coop out of pallets and was looking for ideas on the flooring. In the past, I've always used 3/4" plywood but with the price so high I am looking for something cheaper. I thought of tearing off pallets and using the slats but I'm running low on pallets. Would particle board work? Whatever I use, I will put linoleum down on top. Thanks for any help.

Have a buddy in the flooring business?

I would get some odd boxes of 3/4" wood from him and lay it on the frame. If he is a buddy, he should have tons of it left over and it would be free.

If not go to a flooring store and offer $2 a box for some odds and ends in 3/4"

 

[20Gauge]

Have a buddy in the flooring business?

I would get some odd boxes of 3/4" wood from him and lay it on the frame. If he is a buddy, he should have tons of it left over and it would be free.

If not go to a flooring store and offer $2 a box for some odds and ends in 3/4"

Same goes for the lineolium. Get some odds and ends of that plank stuff. I use it and it works great.

 

[20Gauge]

Thanks everyone for the help. I'll probably bite the bullet and use plywood. I had to raise this coop off the ground because it gets real soggy when it rains.
My other coop I'm using has a ground floor and I think that is the best way to go.

I used 4" pvc pipe to get mine off the ground due to chronic flooding