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Post by Wendy on Apr 6, 2015 18:39:01 GMT
I normally raise my chicks in a big box until old enough to go outside. Well, this year I am getting more than usual so I am going to convert a room in the back of the barn into a permanent brooding place. What should I put down as flooring? It is a wooden floor, but I want to put something down to keep it from getting rotten. Would it be ok to use treated plywood? I will cover it with shavings after it's down. Otherwise I have some tin on hand if you think that would be better. So far I have 53 layer chicks & have 100 broilers coming next week. I also have 13 ducks, but they will stay in a stock tank because they slop too much.
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Apr 6, 2015 19:46:20 GMT
Hey Wendy, In three of our four coops we used treated plywood. Holding up just fine...I shouldn't admit this-but in our first one (which we probably spent too much $$ on)-we used that composite decking! Talk about overkill-Huh! Mari |
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Post by bergere on Apr 6, 2015 19:49:34 GMT
 The floor in my big Hen, hen house is 1" heavy treated plywood. I sealed it using a gloss paint, which makes it really easy to clean. Really wish I sealed my Tack room floor,.. where I now have my bantams housed. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2015 19:59:15 GMT
I put down tar paper and an old linoleum cut oversize, it goes up the walls a foot....James
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Post by Wendy on Apr 6, 2015 21:13:40 GMT
I wasn't sure if the treated would be harmful in any way. Good to know.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2015 10:22:46 GMT
Luan underlayment for floors. Moisture resistant, lightweight, easily obtained and inexpensive!  |
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Post by horseyrider on Apr 7, 2015 14:32:17 GMT
I have a horse stall that's been recycled into a henspital. I can isolate hurt ones, or raise babies. The floors have 3/4" rubber mats. It's a much warmer floor than the cement underneath. It's also easy to scrub or bleach as need be. My turkey coop has a floating vinyl floor with fine shavings on top. I went to Lowe's and bought twelve feet. I even installed it with quarter rounds at the edges, but a person could use a piece thrown down and pull it out for pressure washing. The guy I bought it from uses it for his goats. I personally don't like the idea of plywood unless it's just to reinforce something else. I always worry about the fact that it's somewhat porous. Stuff gets in that we can't get out. How many are you raising? What kind? What are your plans for them? Poultry junkies want to know!  |
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Post by Wendy on Apr 7, 2015 15:04:35 GMT
Right now I have 53 layer chicks & 13 ducks. I have 100 broilers coming next week. I plan on getting some more layers when I make a trip to Rural King.
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Post by horseyrider on Apr 7, 2015 19:34:02 GMT
Right now I have 53 layer chicks & 13 ducks. I have 100 broilers coming next week. I plan on getting some more layers when I make a trip to Rural King.
Whoa! I know you have some hollow legged boys, but even with that, this is a LOT of poultry! Are you selling eggs or meat?
I'm trying to stay out of Rural King right now. A friend of mine is hatching out some mutt chickens for me (RIR rooster with a sterling disposition, with RIR, Australorp, and BR hens) and they're from a home kept pristine. And they're free. But those lil peepers at Rural King call to me!
I'm looking at oh, say 15 total. I have a lot of viable turkey eggs under the turkey hen, and I'm giving my friend half my turkeys. That'll meet my poultry needs just fine.
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Post by Wendy on Apr 7, 2015 20:32:25 GMT
I sell eggs. I also was somehow found by some Mexicans. They buy my old layers for meat. I have tried to sell them cornish rock & they don't want them. They would rather have the layer breeds. So, I try to keep a lot on hand because they will call out of the blue or just show up & want 15 or 20 at a time. The broilers I sell, but also keep enough for us. I have had people calling me & I am out right now. I plan to butcher at least 200 hundred this year. 100 now & 100 later in the fall. Maybe even 300. I want to keep them on hand for when people call. I have also had requests for ducks & also duck eggs. I plan on getting around 10 turkeys too. Every year seems to e a little more & a few more customers, which is good for me. I might throw in some geese too just for fun. |
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Post by horseyrider on Apr 7, 2015 23:44:08 GMT
That sounds like a really big project! I have to agree with your Mexican clients; I find the spent hens to be much more flavorful than the Cornish Rocks, although I wouldn't exactly throw them on the grill. Fabulous soup, also shredded for burritos and such.
I'm blown away by the numbers you manage! What do you do for housing?
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Post by Wendy on Apr 8, 2015 0:10:14 GMT
I have chicken tractors for the broilers. Once they are feathered out the go out of the brooder room in to the tractors.
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