tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35188043.post6650695534053542878..comments2023-11-07T06:51:41.301-06:00Comments on The Beginning Farmer: January 2, 2011Ethan Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333115493519268802noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35188043.post-49183224571452731972011-01-03T18:20:58.534-06:002011-01-03T18:20:58.534-06:00CJ said, "...I wouldn't put a solid floor...CJ said, "...I wouldn't put a solid floor in. You are just making more work for yourself and you will have to replace the floor in short order..."<br /><br />A floor is usually needed in a brooder to keep it warm enough for chicks. Layers or something like pigeons might be more suited to a mesh floor than chicks.<br /><br />If the brooder house is built on skids it should have enough ventilation under the house to prevent the floor from rotting out too quick. The one I built has 3/4' plywood, is about 12 years old, and is still solid. Although the skids and floor joists in the one I built are pressure treated, the plywood and walls are untreated.<br /><br />Chicks need something firm like wood chips to prevent leg problems. With a solid floor you can throw down a layer of wood chips, add more as needed, then shovel the bedding out of the door, sweep the plywood clean, and then disinfect it if needed. <br /><br />Insulating the floor or walls will just give mice something to build their nests with. I doubt if you will have chicks in the house in the coldest part of winter, therefore a heat lamp should keep it warm enough without insulation in the walls.Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11412944120622315804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35188043.post-20045632199032727392011-01-03T09:20:03.733-06:002011-01-03T09:20:03.733-06:00You are right on with keeping things mobile, Joel ...You are right on with keeping things mobile, Joel Salatin would be proud. <br /><br />If it were me, I wouldn't put a solid floor in. You are just making more work for yourself and you will have to replace the floor in short order - unless you use pressure treated, but that just creates a whole new set of problems. All my barns have dirt floors and most I can drive the tractor right into. If you want a floor, I would use wire mesh / hardware cloth with a single solid path down the middle for you to walk on. I get wood chips from a local tree service for free that I put down. That provides the carbon for my composting.<br /><br />Last week I sent a link to several videos of a presentation given by Joel Salatin. Here it is again, I believe it's #6 where he talks about the chickens.<br /><br />http://www.earthactionmentor.org/articles/20100323CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11845848547855120133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35188043.post-45563441904264752412011-01-02T22:35:02.876-06:002011-01-02T22:35:02.876-06:00There is a good plan for a brooder house on skids ...There is a good plan for a brooder house on skids at:<br /><br />http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/aben-plans/6232.pdf<br /><br />I built something similar based on these plans for my mother to house some bantam chickens. Her's has some small doors cut for the chickens in the side for access to some outside runs, but is basically the same.<br /><br />It was a pretty efficient structure to build, with a 8'x8' floor and 6' tall walls meant I could use full sheets of plywood and 8' and 12' 2x4's.Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11412944120622315804noreply@blogger.com