Cover dirt floor with hay?

[vtpoultrymama]

My husband built me a 12x8 coop for all my poultry, a couple months ago. Since day 1, I've completely covered the floor with hay each 1-2 days while cleaning it. I've found in this hot weather, it gets disgusting under the hay. It's sometimes muddy, slimy, has bugs under it and I've even noticed moldy spots. It's been HOT here the last few weeks. I had one of my 4 week old ducks suddenly pass yesterday, after finding her on the coop floor hours before. I believe she had botulism going by her symptoms. Food and water is changed regularly, and I couldn't help but think that she ate something from under the hay. I completely stripped the coop this morning and it actually looks and smells cleaner, without hay all over the floor. Do people generally cover their dirt floors with hay? My birds free range 12 hours a day and only sleep in there during the night, in which 98% of them roost, sleep on hay bales or on top/in nesting boxes. What are everyone's opinions?

 

[darkbaysfordays]

Hay or straw? I don't bed my run, its grass and dirt and my coop has a wood floor with shavings. I don't have experience with straw and chickens but I can tell you from owning horses that bedding with it is awful. Using straw holds the moisture in, can pack down and get really heavy, and it just gets everywhere. Hay has some moisture to it to begin with so that would be an even worse choice, I would imagine.

 

[David61]

I have never had an issue with my dirt floor in my covered run/coop. I use pine flake shavings from tractor supply.

 

[aart]

It's sometimes muddy, slimy, has bugs under it and I've even noticed moldy spots.

Where is the water coming from?
Duck water or leaky roof or flowing in under walls???
Hay and straw can bring in mold spores, not a problem until it gets wet.

Lots of different ways to bed a coop and manage manure.

Welcome to BYC! @vtpoultrymama
Where in this world are you located? Am guessing Vermont...but...
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[vtpoultrymama]

Where is the water coming from?
Duck water or leaky roof or flowing in under walls???
Hay and straw can bring in mold spores, not a problem until it gets wet.

Lots of different ways to bed a coop and manage manure.

Welcome to BYC! @vtpoultrymama
Where in this world are you located? Am guessing Vermont...but...
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2245398

Yes, Vermont! The water is coming from the ducks and geese spilling and being messy..lol

 

[Punkybrewster]

Put the water out into the run. Not the coop. That will help some.

 

[aart]

Yes, Vermont! The water is coming from the ducks and geese spilling and being messy..lol

Put the water out into the run. Not the coop. That will help some.

Yes, into the run with the waterfowl water.
That should help, but I think the waterfowl have juicer poops than chickens so still might effect the coop bedding.

Do you have a run @vtpoultrymama ?
Does it have a solid roof for winter...and good drainage for water messes?