Chicken coop on concrete

[Davery1019]

Is it okay if we have our run on a concrete slab without sand or shavings? If we don’t, will that cause bumblefoot? Thanks in advance!

 

[aart]

'Bumblefoot' is caused by an open wound on the foot which then becomes infected.

Concrete might be fine, they won't enjoy it much tho and you might not enjoy cleaning it.

 

[Howard E]

If you live in an area where rats are a problem, cement might be a good way to go provided it is elevated a bit and drains well. But not bare cement.............

Why no shavings? What about deep litter.......say 4 to 6 inches deep?

 

[JMotuzick]

In my younger days we had pigs on concrete. Super easy to scrape down into a waiting tractor daily. They like chickens love the ground and to forage for gurbs Seads etc. easy for us Inst always best for them though. You would need a dust bath for them... will they have a outside run? Free range?

 

[microchick]

My coop is sitting on a concrete slab. There are a few cracks in the floor as it is an old shed. No problems. I do deep litter over the winter months, doing a clean out now. Will clean it again in fall, repeat.

Right now there is anywhere from 4 to 8 inches of litter on the floor.

My birds have been on the floor for 2 years now without problems. Also less rodent problems.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I think the main problem with no bedding/litter is mainly there's nothing for the chickens to scratch through, which is what they love to do for hours on end.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I have my coop and part of my run on a concrete slab. It was a former semi-covered and semi-concreted dog run. I insist that we have a very thick layer of hay or straw down. I can't imagine, especially in the winter, that walking in concrete would be comfortable for long. A link to my coop build is in my signature below.

 

[Kessel23]

I am pretty sure a concrete floor is a way to decrease bumble foot. Bumble foot is cause by wet, nasty bedding, this creates a sore in the foot and allows a infection to start. It can also be cause in large chickens when the jump down from their roost, if they have a high roost and have a hard landing, day after day, it will cause tears to appear in the birds foot, this can also lead to an infection.

 

[Davery1019]

Thanks for y’all responses. We decided to keep the hens in the yard vs concrete. The law says it has to be at least 10 ft from the house. We have a nice shade tree we are going to put them under.