Upgrading The BerGerks Housing

snitzel chicken · **Posted:** Fri Jun 29, 2012 5:14 pm

Hi all,

Love this forum, its great.

I am going to upgrade my chook house to something that is a little more water proof. I was able to get ahold of everything second hand when we first built The BerGerks housing. So currently it is in the corner of the back yard, has tin as the roof, tin on the 3rd side and wire and tin on the front a front swinging door, have dirt flooring. I have noticed a little bit of mice poop on the floor which is not making me happy. It is currently an enclosed area of 5m x 5m. [smilie=a_withstupid.gif]

I am currently housing 10 hens, with another 2 on the way soon.

I have been able to get a hold of an old garden shed, what is your thoughts on flooring? Leave it as dirt, should I concrete it or we thought maybe get some wooden pallets, place them down and place some flooring over that so we can hose it out? I would also like to put a little hatch in that I can access from outside to collect the eggs. I really want to do this right this time cause we wont be building another one.

Please let me know your thoughts, of if you have any photos that you would like to share with me I would love it.
than657

ILoveMyChickies · **Posted:** Fri Jun 29, 2012 5:39 pm

Hi Snitzel Chicken,

It sounds pretty water proof already? But you could always put a few tarps up maybe?
Flooring, ours is just dirt like yours and we don't have a problem with it. I don't think it matters too much, whatever you are happy with but I'm not an expert.
Do your girls already lay eggs? Because you might find it hard to get them to lay in the new egg box if they are already laying eggs. If not you should put it near where they sleep I think.

I hope that has helped you a little bit.
Goodluck!

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Mice carry all sorts of disease. I always remove all food out at night to discourage them. They can still find their way in though

On top of the mesh floor, I have a layer of river sand, topped with non toxic wood shavings, organic sugar cane mulch and then topped with straw, though I don't use much straw in winter. I don't use hay as it gets mouldy and the chooks can get respiratory infections from mouldy hay.

There are a couple of threads already on flooring. Just scroll down in this topic.

I am hoping to make my Aframe rodent and predator proof and also more weather proof before I get my new girls in Spring.

buffy the sussex · **Posted:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 7:15 pm

you should use dirt floors in dry areas, and concrete floors in wet areas

cassnboys · **Posted:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 8:07 pm

Hi snitzel chicken!

Your girls sound really nicely housed. It sounds very similar to mine and I have often wondered about the flooring :-?

I haven't lost a chook yet with the dirt flooring and our run, not to say that I won't, but after talking with my Great Uncle for his 70th this week (who's had a few chooks in his time) and to get some advice on the broody I recently had, I kind of have the feeling that if they are well feed, with clean digs and water, free ranged daily and treated respectfully/loved.....you have the basis of a really good system.

Mind you, I haven't had the need to ask him what they did 'back in the day' if infection broke out [smilie=a_hrm.gif]

What buffy the sussex says makes sense too

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