Raising chickens can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. However, properly caring for your flock requires maintenance and upkeep of their coop and run area.
When your coop is built on a concrete floor, extra steps must be taken to keep your chickens healthy, clean, and comfortable.
With some planning and diligent care, you can successfully raise happy, healthy chickens in a coop on a concrete floor.
Contents
Bedding is Essential
The most important thing you can do for a coop on concrete is provide deep, dry bedding for your chickens.
Bedding helps insulate chickens’ feet from the cold floor, absorbs moisture from their droppings, and gives them material to scratch and dust bathe in. Aim for 4-6 inches of bedding material throughout the coop.
For more on this, check out our guide on insulating a concrete chicken coop.
Good bedding options include:
- Wood shavings
- Straw
- Rice hulls
- Sand
Avoid using bedding like sawdust, which can cause respiratory issues. Cedar shavings should also be avoided as they contain oils that can irritate chickens’ skin and respiratory tracts.
Make sure any bedding you provide is dry and dust-free. Damp bedding can harbor harmful mold and bacteria. Rake and fluff the bedding daily to help it dry out. Remove any visibly soiled or wet areas.
Frequent Cleaning is a Must
With no dirt or vegetation to absorb manure and other waste, concrete coops require diligent, frequent cleaning.
Aim to do a full coop clean out and replace all the bedding at least once a week. For large flocks, you may need to clean twice a week or more.
You may want to consider the costs of a concrete chicken coop when planning your cleaning schedule.
Here are some tips for effective coop cleaning:
- Remove all chickens from the coop and run.
- Scoop out all soiled, dirty bedding and dispose of properly.
- Sweep the entire floor to remove dust, feathers, and debris.
- Scrub the floor using soap/detergent and water. A stiff broom works well.
- Rinse the floor thoroughly to remove all soap residue.
- Allow the floor to fully dry before adding clean bedding.
- Spray the floor, roosts, and nest boxes with disinfectant. Let sit 10 minutes before rinsing.
- Add 4-6 inches of fresh, dry bedding.
- Return chickens to the coop and run. Monitor for signs of illness.
Disinfection of All Surfaces
Disinfecting the coop between flocks is critical for preventing disease. On concrete, bacteria have nowhere to hide. Use a poultry-safe disinfectant after each cleaning.
Pay close attention to corners, crevices, and high-touch areas. Allow surfaces to air dry fully before reintroducing chickens.
Learn more about the advantages of a concrete chicken coop in terms of disease control.
Some effective disinfectants include:
- Poultry-safe bleach solutions
- Vinegar
- Citric acid
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Potassium peroxymonosulfate
Follow label instructions carefully and never mix chemicals. Proper disinfection will help keep your flock healthy.
Provide Proper Drainage
One major downside of concrete is moisture gets trapped, leading to unhealthy ammonia build up. Ensure your coop has proper drainage so liquid can run off. For more tips on this, see our guide on drainage in a concrete chicken coop.
Installing a drain in the floor is ideal. Use PVC pipe to route water from the drain out beneath the coop walls. Cover the drain with a grate to prevent clogging.
If installing a drain isn’t possible, create graded slopes in the floor. The floor should slope away from the center to prevent water pooling. Even a 1% slope can effectively move water.
Adding a thin layer of gravel or sand can also improve drainage. Avoid standard concrete, which is non-porous. Porous materials allow moisture to seep through.
Keep the Coop Dry
Moisture allows harmful bacteria and mold to thrive.
Take steps to keep your concrete coop as dry as possible:
- Ensure adequate ventilation. Install windows on opposite walls to allow cross breezes. Place exhaust fans to actively ventilate the coop. For more information, check our article on ventilation in a concrete chicken coop.
- Use fans judiciously. Circulating air regularly helps evaporate moisture. But don’t aim fans directly on the chickens.
- Add a dehumidifier to actively remove moisture from the air if the coop has chronic dampness issues.
- Divert water away from the coop. Ensure gutters and downspouts move roof runoff well away from the foundation. Grade the soil to prevent puddling against walls.
- Allow the sun to enter. Sunlight helps dry out the coop interior. Just be sure the chickens have shaded areas to escape the sun if needed.
Dry coops equal healthy chickens. Monitor for musty smells or signs of moisture regularly.
Inspect for Damage Regularly
The concrete flooring and foundation should be included in your regular coop inspections.
Look for:
- Cracks in the floor or foundation. Can allow moisture seepage and pest entry. Seal up with appropriate caulking or repair products. This is a part of maintaining the concrete base coop lifespan.
- Signs of pitting, crumbling, or wear. Indicates the concrete is degrading. May need resurfacing or foundation repairs.
- Shifting or settling. Watch for changes in floor levelness. May indicate issues with the underlying base.
- Water ponding against the foundation or walls. Improper drainage can cause moisture damage over time.
- Rodent holes or entry points. Seal up any gaps in the foundation greater than 1/4 inch.
Promptly fix any issues found and monitor for further degradation. Protect your investment by staying on top of repairs.
Add a Sand Layer
Covering the concrete floor with a few inches of construction sand can benefit your chickens by:
- Allowing chickens to dust bathe and forage naturally. This satisfies their chicken instincts!
- Creating a more giving, comfortable surface for chickens’ feet. The sand will compact somewhat from use.
- Absorbing some excess moisture and odors. Sand is more porous than concrete.
- Providing insulation from the cold concrete.
- Discouraging pests from burrowing up into the coop. To learn more about this, check out our article on pest control in a concrete coop.
Stir or rake the sand daily to keep it loose and replace any visibly soiled areas as needed. Dump and replace all the sand 1-2 times per year.
Ensure Proper Ventilation
Proper ventilation is key for all coops but especially important on non-porous concrete. Stale ammonia gases from droppings need to be diluted and removed.
Make sure the coop has:
- Windows on at least 2 sides to allow cross breezes
- Exhaust fans to actively ventilate and move stale air out
- Soffit vents near roof level to allow air intake
- No drafts directly on roosting chickens
Strategically place fans to pull air up and out. Open windows on opposite sides to maintain airflow. Adjust ventilation as needed seasonally.
Guard Against Predators
The concrete base helps deter digging predators like foxes. But don’t get complacent with security:
- Check for and seal any gaps or holes along the foundation
- Use 1/4 inch galvanized hardware cloth on all windows and vents
- Install an electric predator-proof mesh fencing around the run
- Use latches, locks, and rods to properly secure doors
- Close up the coop tightly at night
Concrete provides no protection against predators that can chew or climb like dogs, raccoons, or rats.
Be vigilant against all predator types. To learn more about the impact of location, read about the location effect on a concrete coop.
Follow Proper Biosecurity Steps
With chickens living directly on the ground, pathogens can easily be transmitted from shoes or equipment.
Follow these biosecurity tips:
- Keep a footbath outside the coop filled with disinfectant. Scrub shoes before entering.
- Avoid stepping in manure or soiled bedding then tracking it around.
- Isolate any birds showing signs of illness immediately.
- Quarantine new birds for 30 days before adding to the flock.
- Don’t share equipment with other flocks without disinfecting.
- Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling chickens.
- Control access to your birds by people and wild pests.
Strict biosecurity protects against devastating illnesses like avian influenza. Remain vigilant.
Monitor Chickens Closely
Keep a close eye on your chickens for signs of health issues stemming from the concrete environment:
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Bumblefoot: Watch for swelling on feet, which can indicate sores from hard surfaces. Treat promptly. Add more bedding or sand.
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Respiratory illness: increased mucus, coughing, sneezing. Ensure proper ventilation and dust-free bedding.
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Pasted vent: Feces sticking to vent area. Keep the coop clean and bedding dry.
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Dirty feathers: Can indicate insufficient bedding for dust bathing.
- Stress behaviors: Chickens avoiding floor, reluctance to enter coop. Add more bedding or provide a sand pit.
Address any health or behavior changes immediately to keep chickens healthy and thriving.
Conclusion
While concrete coops present some unique challenges, they can successfully house backyard chickens with diligent maintenance.
The key is providing plenty of clean, dry bedding, frequent waste removal, disinfection measures, and paying close attention to drainage.
Monitoring your chickens closely and addressing issues promptly is also essential. With good management, your concrete coop can be a safe, healthy home for your flock.