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sharonelayne

In the Brooder
Nov 30, 2024
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I started in July with 5 chickens. My neighbor wanted to reduce the number that she had. I chose not to have a rooster. From what I have been told they are about 2 yrs. old.

I have a wood chicken coop inside a fenced chicken run. I guess my question is that the wood coop is on the ground and I worry about the wood rotting, does it? Is it better for the chickens to have dirt floors?

Any and all opinions are welcome. I have learned a lot from this BYC.
 
sharonelayne said:
I started in July with 5 chickens. My neighbor wanted to reduce the number that she had. I chose not to have a rooster. From what I have been told they are about 2 yrs. old.

I have a wood chicken coop inside a fenced chicken run. I guess my question is that the wood coop is on the ground and I worry about the wood rotting, does it? Is it better for the chickens to have dirt floors?

Any and all opinions are welcome. I have learned a lot from this BYC.
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Welcome to BYC!

My main chicken coop is off the ground. I have had a temporary one for raising chicks that sat on the ground...it was made very cheaply and as a result, didn't last long. How quickly wood rots depends on the quality and type of wood...all wood does eventually break down. Are you in a wet climate or area? Can water pool around your coop? Another concern, of course, is predators getting under it if it is flimsy.
 
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DobieLover said:
Hello and welcome to BYC! :frow Glad you joined.
Wood in direct contact with the soil, even if it is treated for that, will rot faster than wood that is placed on crushed gravel or elevated so air can dry it out.
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That is what I thought so thank you for confirming. I have some 2" thick cement blocks so I will put the coop on them.
 
Thanks for joining! You could put a substrate down just to make it easier to keep clean than dirt. Dirt is fine though, if it doesn't get too muddy. A lot of people like using sand, but I'd use the coarse sand like construction or arena sand and not play sand or beach sand. Pine bark or wood chips (not cedar) would work, too.

Best wishes for your flock! Welcome to BackYard Chickens!
 

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