Slide-out floor for hen-house?

[Curlykale]

I have been given this starter hen-house but there is a bit which appears to be missing and which I need to replace before I get my chickens.

At the bottom of the sloped roof you will see a gap above the wooden floor - I need to make some sort of slide-out tray to fit on the floor which can be pulled out for cleaning. It will presumably need to have a vertical 'front' to fill in the gap when it is in place to stop any rodents getting in.

I am not in the slightest bit 'handy' so would be grateful for any suggestions as to what I can use to make a simple tray and front.

Also, what materials should I use on the floor of the coop and run and in the nesting boxes? I was thinking of using ornamental bark in the run, sawdust or wood shavings on the floor of the coop and straw or sawdust in the nesting boxes. Which would be best? (The coop and run will be placed on a paved area).

Thanks in advance for any replies

[chris]

I know others will mention this, but if you're using the slide out floor please be thorough in your cleaning regime! They make the perfect spot for red mite to hide under.

Hardboard is thin, has an almost sealed top, and is easy to cut with a sharp knife. Plywood too, I guess but the edges would make perfect spots for red mite again, or if you can get a fabricator to make you a metal tray that would do too!

[RichmondHens]

Think you'll have to get a local carpenter to make one to fit, might be your best bet. A sheet of ply cut to fit. Presume there is a larger access door to the house? How do you get at the hens once they are inside?

Use wood chip in the run rather than bark (it harbours mould spores) but that run looks awfully small so I hope the chickens are going to get a bit more freedom?

[petal]

Its easy enough to cut a sheet of waterproofed ply to fit. measure the size and they will cut it at your local diy type shop. The Alladins cave variety. The run to your coop is not sufficient room for even dutch bantams, so you will either have to extend its length or allow the chickens out all the time.

[jessmorris]

I use ply. Make sure you use wood preservartive on the cut edges or they will swell and be a pest to get in and out! You can screw a piece of 1x1 on the edge that will be the outside so you can pull it out easily. I agree with the others, that ain't no run..not really even big enough as a broody run for teeny chicks!
Hope all goes well and you get sorted.

[Curlykale]

Thanks everyone. The house and run are going to be placed inside a larger walk-in run, and whenever we are home the chickens will be allowed to "free range" around the garden. I must say though I'm really confused about how much space chickens need in a run. I have read so many conflicting opinions and have seen several chickens squashed into a tiny eglu run all day every day, which doesn't seem right to me. There is access to the nest boxes via a drop-down flap at the back of the house but it isn't very big so it is going to be tricky to clean the house out. We do intend to buy a bigger and better house in time.

[jessmorris]

I guess the more space they can have the better.....and you're right, those tiny Eglu runs are awful.