Expanded clay floor in the chicken coop. The best floor for a chicken coop

Heated chicken coop in winter- a tricky business. In sub-zero temperatures, the egg production of a bird is critically reduced, and the birds themselves get sick more often. How to avoid such troubles?

Chicken coop heating options

Previously, chickens were thrown into the attic in winter, settled in a warm barn, in the underground, or even in the house. Today, such measures are considered obsolete, the issues of winter maintenance and heating of the chicken coop can be solved in modern ways. Namely, to automate the bird care system. It should be noted that well-known radiators, convectors, heat guns and potbelly stoves are quite dangerous ways of heating, because the chicken coop is full of dust, droppings and fluff. Infrared lamps explode quite often. It is not advisable to install a heating boiler or a brick oven, a boiler room, a boiler room in such a room. How and with what else can you heat a chicken coop in winter?

Underfloor heating, namely infrared film, is surely becoming a good help in farms. Its cost has become very affordable, and the assortment generosity allows you to choose the most suitable option for a variety of purposes. And the installation of the film in cages for hens, flocks and any premises where immature young and adult birds are kept is quite quick and easy. Because infrared heating and poultry farmers fell in love.

Floors on the ceiling

Infrared floor heating in a chicken coop is not quite a floor. The film is mounted on a wall or ceiling, therefore, it is possible to prevent contact of the heating system with the bird. It does not warm the air, but the walls, the floor, the perches and the chickens themselves. And objects are already giving off heat into the air by convection. Therefore, the heating of the room occurs evenly, without dust whirlwinds and oxygen combustion. The warm floor in the chicken coop is fireproof, it does not make noise, its operation does not require constant monitoring. And yet, infrared heating allows you to reduce the humidity of the air, thereby relieving the chicken coop from fungus and mold. Thus, the winter heating of the chicken coop with IR film allows you to achieve the microclimate necessary for the healthy life of birds.

How to calculate and mount

First you need to calculate the footage of the film. It is better to install it on the wall: mount the film so that the heat is directed to the nests and perches.

We present the calculation of the film for an unheated wooden room.

Initial data 1:

The size of the chicken coop is 10 sq.m., 3 external load-bearing walls (100x100 timber insulated with mineral wool), wall height 2000 mm, window 500x500 mm, wooden frames, double, insulated door 600x1200 mm, earthen floor (from below waterproofed with roofing material). Region: Krasnoyarsk (winter temperatures -20 ... -35). The required indoor temperature in winter is -5 ... +5.

Calculation of a warm floor in a chicken coop for Krasnoyarsk

Based on the fact that the minimum temperatures in the Krasnoyarsk Territory can reach -42°C, the total heat loss of this room will be about 0.65 kW. We summarize the heat losses of the front door - 250 W and the windows - 100 W with the heat losses of the room, obtaining a total heat loss of 1000 W. To maintain the required temperature and compensate for heat losses, we calculate the heating power per cubic meter of the room:

The total volume of the room (hen house) is 10 sq.m x 2 m = 20 cubic meters.

Required power per cubic meter 650 W / 20 cubic meters = 32.5 W / cubic meters. Summing up the additional heat losses, we get 650 W + 250 W + 100 W = 1000 W - the total power of the required heating system.

A standard infrared film has a power of 0.22 kW/sq.m, hence for space heating 1000 W / 220 W / sq.m. will be required. = 4.55 sq. m of film.

Initial data 2:

The size of the chicken coop is 10 sq.m, 3 external load-bearing walls (100x50 timber insulated with mineral wool), wall height 2000 mm, window 500x500 mm, wooden frames, single, door 600x1200 mm, earthen floor (from below waterproofed with roofing material). Region: Moscow region (winter temperatures -8 ... -15). The required indoor temperature in winter is 0 ... +5.

Calculation of a warm floor in a chicken coop for Moscow

Based on the fact that the minimum temperatures in Moscow and the Moscow region can reach -30°C, and the room is not sufficiently insulated, its total heat loss will be about 0.55 kW. We summarize the heat losses of the front door - 175 W and the windows - 75 W with the heat losses of the room, obtaining a total heat loss of 800 W. To maintain the required temperature and compensate for heat losses, we calculate the heating power per cubic meter of the room:

The total volume of the room (hen house) is 10 sq. m x 2m = 20 cubic meters

Required power per cubic meter 550 W / 20 cubic meters = 27.5 W / cubic meters. Summing up additional heat losses, we get 550 W + 175 W + 75 W = 800 W - the total power of the required heating.

A standard infrared film has a power of 0.22 kW/sq.m, hence for space heating 800 W / 220 W / sq.m. will be required. = 3.64 sq. m. film.

Installation

The distance from the heating surface to the perches should be about a meter. In addition to the film itself, you will need double-sided tape, a mounting kit, a thermostat, a reflective backing, and a couple of sheets of plywood. One sheet of plywood is needed in order to install a heating system in the chicken coop (the film is laid only on a flat surface), and the other is to prevent the bird from pecking at the infrared film. A reflective substrate is required so that heat does not escape through the walls to the street. A thermostat - to regulate the operation of the film and save energy. Thermal sensors record the temperature in the chicken coop, as well as the temperature of the heated film, and, depending on the set program, the heated floor in the chicken coop turns on and off on its own. Thus, smart electronics itself monitors the temperature in the room. Chickens for joy.

The design itself looks like this:

We fix a sheet of plywood on the wall with self-tapping screws, to which we then attach a reflective substrate with double-sided tape. We fix the structure with planks. Then we prepare the infrared film for installation. To do this, we fix the clamps for the supply of electricity on the current-carrying busbars of the film, crimp the clamps with the supply wires of the power cable and isolate them at the place of fastening with a bitumen gasket. Then, with the same bituminous gasket, we attach thermal sensors to the surface of the film, and isolate them. Thermal sensors should not be superimposed on the radiating element, it is attached between the emitter strips on the film surface. At the next stage, we attach the infrared film ready for use to the wall of the chicken coop. First, we cut out a window in the reflective film - in the place where the fragment of the film with the temperature sensor will be located. We attach the film to the substrate with double-sided tape, with the tire up. We fix the wires on the substrate with ordinary adhesive tape, sheathe the entire structure with a sheet of plywood on top (to prevent the bird from pecking at the film) and fix the plywood with self-tapping screws. When installing an infrared heated floor in a chicken coop, it is necessary to ensure that screws do not get into the contact busbars and radiating elements. To do this, we outline the contour of the fasteners with self-tapping screws on plywood. We place the thermostat in an area inaccessible to birds and close the appropriate signal and power cables with corrugated pipes. That's all, chicken coop ready for winter.

Which film to choose

The field of application of infrared film is expanding every year, new generations of it are being produced, suitable for the most unexpected solutions. Almost any film can be mounted on walls and ceilings. Vertically, horizontally, locally. It remains to choose a manufacturer you trust. And take into account some features: for example, if you have a very humid room, choose a film with a moisture-proof coating. Practice shows that for an ideal result it is not necessary to buy the most expensive and "promoted" infrared film. In our case, we can be content with the cheapest South Korean film (Lavita LH, RexVa Xica, Q-Term), it fully justifies itself in work.

For farmers with little experience and beginners who decide to breed chickens for their own use, it will be useful to read the information on the proper arrangement of the chicken coop. It is necessary to take into account the fact that the breeding of a household requires a lot of time and effort. This consists not only in providing birds with food and care, but also in arranging the premises for their habitat. Together, these factors have a significant impact on the performance of chickens. Every poultry farmer soon begins to think about how to make a chicken coop.

The construction of housing is the main part for breeding birds, because it helps to protect chickens from unwanted weather conditions. The floor in the chicken coop is the most significant component, as it helps to maintain the temperature regime, which will ensure a decent level of egg production even during the winter period, and is also responsible for the sanitary conditions in the room. Let's consider what is better to use for erecting a floor and how to do it correctly.

Almost every chicken coop is an ordinary unheated barn: a small amount of finance is invested in such buildings. Among the popular raw materials in the construction of poultry houses, wood is distinguished. However, in this room it is necessary to maintain the air temperature in the range from 10 to 15 ° C, it is for this reason that the chicken coop needs additional insulation. For these purposes, cheap materials of natural origin, wood chips, dry grass are used. Depending on the climate and weather conditions, everyone must choose the degree of insulation for themselves.

What should be the floor in the chicken coop

It is the floor that provides protection for birds from adverse weather and predators, which are a potential danger to the household, and, thanks to it, you can significantly affect the sanitary condition of the chicken coop. If the floor is properly installed, it will be possible not only to keep the chicken coop warm during the cold season and ensure an acceptable temperature in the summer, but also to improve the chickens' habitat.

A warm and relatively soft floor in a chicken coop for the winter will protect birds from pneumonia and freezing of their paws. If there are chicks in the chicken coop, it is best to cover one corner with rubber and cover it with soft hay or straw. Such bedding effectively retains heat, and it is quite easy to change it for fresh.

At the moment, three types of materials for laying floors are known: earth, concrete, wood. Each of these forms has its advantages and disadvantages, they have many differences both in the time spent on construction, structure, and in their cost in case you decide to lay a warm floor in the chicken coop with your own hands.

Detailed description of different types of floors

For more detailed information about which floor will be optimal for a chicken coop, you need to consider their general characteristics, as well as the pros and cons:

earthen floor

After analyzing the information, we can conclude that this coating does not cope with its main tasks, but additional strengthening with plastic clay will help improve the situation. Due to its characteristics, it will provide good absorption of moisture and will be more and more compacted every day, so that the floor will become more durable and its service life will increase. In this case, the thickness of the clay layer should be at least 10 cm, which will provide the necessary waterproofing in the chicken coop. You also need to consider how many birds will inhabit the barn: the more heads, the denser the earthen floor should be.

Concrete floor

Concrete is also one of the favorites, because the technology of such a coating is also simple and does not require spending a lot of time, so even the most inexperienced farmer can make a concrete floor. The concrete floor gives a 100% guarantee of protection against predatory animals, but is distinguished by maintaining a low air temperature in the room, despite the season. This problem can be easily solved. To do this, you need to cover the floor with an additional layer of bedding made of synthetic or natural materials, due to which the cooling process of the room is several times slower, but such a floor must also be of high quality, drainage mesh and earth seal as a base will not interfere.

In addition, among the undeniable advantages are its resistance to water and alkalis, non-flammability, as well as its durability. This type of coating, when properly erected, can last 25 years, which can not boast of any of the floors made from other materials. If the choice fell on such a floor, remember that the bedding should be soft and retain heat well.

Wooden floor

This option is the most rational way to cover the floors in the chicken coop, because it provides the necessary temperature conditions and does not require additional insulation. The boards do not freeze in winter, which is the main advantage for the winter floor, you can put caged sitting on it. This material is characterized by high environmental friendliness and ease of construction.

In order to reduce the influence of microorganisms on the structure of the material, a solution of lime is used. The solution needs to do a kind of processing, covering the surface with it. Many people use wood to insulate the house, they also recommend installing the floor at a slight degree, in order to further clean the room from broiler waste was easier. A net perch in a brooder can help with sleeping quarters for birds.

How to lay the floor with your own hands

If you have already made a decision regarding the material for the manufacture of flooring, you should familiarize yourself with the basics of its construction. Due to the fact that you can make the floor with your own hands, the costs are significantly reduced, since only materials require costs. For large chicken coops, wooden floors are recommended, and for small ones, earthen floors are allowed.

If there is no foundation, it will need to be built.

For a chicken coop, a columnar foundation is more suitable, since the flooring surface in this case is located at a certain distance from the ground, which increases the service life of the wooden coating.

To make a wooden floor, you need to have only the following materials:

  • board;
  • bars;
  • nails;
  • cement mortar;
  • saw;
  • hammer;
  • brick.

To build the foundation, it is necessary to lay out bricks in the form of pedestals about 20 cm high every 0.5 m, however, the foundation is not needed if a concrete floor has been made before: it can be the foundation.

It must be remembered that in order to simplify cleaning in the future, it is recommended to make the floor at a slight slope.

Sometimes the distance between the lags is recommended to be laid with heaters. Silk seals work best. Boards are laid at right angles to the joists. It is necessary to cut the boards so that the joint falls in the middle of the log. For each of the logs, it is necessary to allocate 2 nails in order to be able to nail the boards later. It is important to pay attention to their direction, as the boards must be joined, forming an angle. There are many different videos on the Internet resources dedicated to this topic, where the construction of a chicken coop is described in more detail.

How to insulate the floor

In the cold season, many people ask themselves the question: “How to insulate a chicken coop?” Because, regardless of the season, chickens need comfortable conditions. The wooden floor itself is warm, but if severe frosts are expected, this will not be enough. Warming occurs through the use of bedding, among which there are two types: deep and shallow. They help to keep the air temperature in the poultry house even in winter in the range of up to 26°C without the use of additional heating equipment.

To insulate the floor in the chicken coop, it is not recommended to use modern heat-saving raw materials. It is recommended to use materials of natural origin, such as sawdust, straw, peat. A large layer of insulation is laid and added in the future, the frequency of replacement depends on the degree of pollution.

Moss peat insulation is considered the best option for floor insulation in a poultry house, because it not only does its job remarkably well, preventing the room from cooling down, but also absorbs moisture well, eliminating the fetid odor.

If you decide to insulate the chicken coop using sawdust, then shavings from coniferous trees are ideal for this, since they are characterized by a bactericidal effect. They also absorb excess liquid and do not have the property of caking. Chopped straw and dried grass cope with the tasks no worse, because these materials help to keep warm for a long time.

Conclusion

Everyone can do the floor in the chicken coop with their own hands, for this you need to make some efforts and know what material is best to use for these purposes and how to do it correctly for its durability and rationality. Everyone has the right to choose what is best to make the floor, but you should carefully study all the advantages and disadvantages of each of the proposed options to achieve the desired result. In favorable conditions in a room where it is warm and dry, chickens are less susceptible to various kinds of diseases and infections. Having made the right base, you can start breeding chicks.

If the floor manufacturing technology is correctly implemented, chickens will be comfortable regardless of the season, which will have a beneficial effect on their egg production.

Russian winters are so cold that even chickens stop laying between November and March. So that the chickens do not stop laying and in the winter, it is enough to equip a warm chicken coop ..

But as practice shows, this is not an easy question, and problems often arise when choosing heating methods. It is necessary to take into account many factors, conditions, calculate financial costs, and then make a decision on a specific heating method, choosing the best one.

The fact is that heating the chicken coop with a warm floor is the most convenient option, since external heating methods that were often used earlier - ceiling open IR heaters - do not cope with the task and consume a lot of energy. The peculiarities of this room are that there are always a lot of feathers and fluff: in addition to polluting the air, they can get into open-type heaters and cause a fire. But using underfloor heating in the chicken coop helps. eliminate all these shortcomings: feathers, fluff and other debris do not interact with the warm floor, in this regard, the risk of fire is excluded.

Types of Electric Chicken Coop Floors

Since indoor temperature is very important for chickens, the main task of heating is to make them feel comfortable in their house. The device of a warm floor in a chicken coop in a chicken coop has numerous advantages, which include:

  • the bedding that covers the floor in the chicken coop is constantly heated, which avoids moisture;
  • it is possible to set the exact temperature in the room;
  • young animals are constantly in comfortable conditions without drafts and hypothermia;
  • guarantee of electrical safety and moisture protection.

The heating of the chicken coop with a warm floor is carried out using an electric floor heating, which is offered in two types:

  • cable;
  • film.

TOP5 underfloor heating for a chicken coop

Cable underfloor heating for the chicken coop

The biggest disadvantage of cable underfloor heating is that a concrete screed is required for its installation. That is, such a warm floor resembles a multilayer cake:

  • the first layer of concrete screed makes the floor perfectly flat;
  • then a layer of insulation is laid;
  • after - reinforced mesh (gives maximum rigidity);
  • then - cable, cable mats for electric floor heating;
  • screed layer (can be replaced with a layer of tile adhesive);
  • finishing flooring.

Such a “sandwich” of a cable underfloor heating is somewhat irrational, since its arrangement takes a lot of time, a lot of effort is expended, and the height of the room can be significantly reduced by laying a concrete screed.

Optimal underfloor heating for a chicken coop

The most optimal warm floors in the chicken coop are film ones that do not need to be laid in a screed. To lay a film-type warm floor, it is enough to level the subfloor, which can be achieved by laying boards and a thicker layer of insulation, which will smooth out all existing surface irregularities.

In addition, heating the chicken coop with a film-type warm floor provides numerous advantages:

  1. positive effect on the body of the chicken due to the emitted infrared radiation;
  2. has high energy efficiency (saves electricity several times more than other types of electric floors);
  3. provides uniform heating of the room due to graphic spraying;
  4. has the ability to quickly warm up the room and maintain it for a long time;
  5. due to the use of a cloudy polymer in the manufacture, thermal deformation of the floor during operation is excluded;
  6. the risk of failure due to sparks is eliminated or reduced to a minimum.

The floor with the laid IR film consists of the following layers:

  • draft floor;
  • insulation;
  • film warm floor;
  • the flooring, which in chicken coops is most often made of wood, however, the flooring can also be made of any other material, sprinkled with sawdust as a result.

To regulate the temperature in the room, it is necessary to install a thermostat, with the help of which a comfortable temperature will be constantly maintained in the chicken coop. You can choose a thermostat suitable for the selected "warm floor" system in the chicken coop in the "" section.

If you do not know how to solve the issue of creating the optimal temperature in the chicken coop, please contact the managers of our company for a free consultation: highly qualified specialists are ready to solve even the most difficult tasks of installing any type of underfloor heating.

Turning to our managers, you can always get answers to all questions regarding the installation of underfloor heating in any, even the most non-standard room.

  • Material selection

    The choice of means for warming depends on the climatic conditions of the region of residence, but an indispensable condition is the creation of a temperature regime that is kept at the level of 10-15 ° C. Among the frequently used natural ingredients that allow you to make a warm floor in a chicken coop with your own hands, includes dry grass and wood shavings, which, when arranging a chicken coop, act as an additional method of warming.

    Properly selected and equipped underfloor heating for the chicken coop is the key to the health of poultry. In winter, it retains heat, protecting chickens from colds and pneumonia. In summer, it maintains the optimum temperature, providing comfort to the layers.

    It is possible to insulate the floor in a chicken coop using concrete, wood or soil, and electric heating is also a good option.

    ground cover

    The most economical and simple option is the arrangement of an earthen cover, which is compacted soil or gravel. However, it has several disadvantages:

    Clay coating when arranging an earthen floor in a chicken coop gives it durability and practicality, its layer should be from 10 cm or more.

    concrete pavement

    Concrete floor provides reliable protection against predators and rodents, is resistant to moisture and chemicals, its service life is up to 25 years, it is easy to clean, but it retains heat poorly. Eliminate this drawback with the help of additional bedding made of natural material and drainage mesh.

    wooden flooring

    Warm wood flooring is suitable for keeping adult broilers and chickens, because. natural material retains heat well and practically does not need additional insulation. Mesh cages are installed on the boards or mesh perches are equipped. The minimum thickness of the boards that are laid so that the flooring does not freeze through is 20 mm.

    Important conditions for the equipment of a wooden floor are sanded boards and the absence of protruding nails.

    Among the disadvantages are flammability and susceptibility to fungi and pests that destroy the wood structure. To maintain it, processing is required, often lime is used for this. To simplify the cleaning of the wooden floor allows the arrangement of the flooring at an angle.

    To prevent rotting processes, the wooden floor for the chicken coop is treated with water-repellent agents.

    Floor Equipment Technology

    Do-it-yourself floor insulation in a chicken coop usually begins with pouring the foundation, which many people prefer to be columnar, it raises the flooring above the soil surface. Such a foundation increases the life of the flooring. The foundation is not necessary when it is made of concrete, as well as when arranging a ground cover in structures built on beams.

    For a small chicken coop, soil flooring is suitable, for a larger one, made of wood. Plastic decks and nets emit toxic phenols and mold, so PVC is not suitable for decking.

    The foundation pillars should be laid with lags so that they lie parallel, the space between them is filled with insulation. The optimal distance between the lags is no more than 0.6 m, which avoids deflection of the beams. To prevent heat from leaving, use a heat-insulating layer. Planks are laid on top.

    When building a poultry house, you need to decide in advance one of the most important questions: what materials to make the floor in the chicken coop from and whether it is possible to organize it yourself. There are several options for performing this task, the practicality and efficiency of which have been proven by many years of practice of farmers and summer residents.

    • earthen;
    • wood;
    • concrete;
    • from improvised materials: slate, sand, corrugated board.

    Basic requirements for flooring:

    • strength to prevent the entry of predators;
    • non-hygroscopicity, which guarantees the absence of decay processes;
    • low thermal conductivity;
    • ecological cleanliness;
    • safety for the health and movement of chickens;
    • ease of cleaning and cleaning.

    How to make floors in a chicken coop and what is more suitable, the experience and advice of Russian and foreign poultry farmers will tell you. When choosing the option for arranging the lower floor, they are guided not only by their financial situation, but also by the climatic conditions of the region of residence.

    When deciding how to make the floor in the chicken coop, take into account the intended method of heating the room in the winter. If the heating is from the mains, any type of lower ceiling will do. With brick or metal ovens, it is recommended to pour a layer of concrete. This will greatly reduce the risk of a fire.

    Method 1

    For the seasonal keeping of chickens, which is often practiced in country cottages, you can build a simple building with a lightweight foundation. For its device, a concrete tape is poured (30–35 cm deep and 10 cm wide) around the perimeter of the house. It will block the possibility of penetration of predators and will serve as a base for the walls.

    Method 2

    If there is no desire or opportunity to knead and pour a cement-sand mortar, they dig a pit to a depth of 30–40 cm. Its bottom and walls are leveled and compacted in any convenient way. Then a metal mesh with a fine mesh is stretched so that it is located not only over the floor area, but also covers the built earthen walls.

    • arrange a thick layer of bedding of sand and / or sawdust;
    • pour a thin (5–7 cm) layer of concrete along the grid.

    The soil floor in the poultry house has an important advantage: it absorbs moisture well, so the litter remains dry for a long time and does not rot. But there are also disadvantages:

    • fragility;
    • freezing;
    • the possibility of germination of plants and raking the soil by chickens.

    Construction stages

    To create a floor covering, there is the following algorithm:

    1. Pit formation. On the plot of land chosen for the construction of the chicken coop, markings are made, determining the corner points of the future structure. Draw straight lines between them and take out the soil to a depth of 40-50 cm within the marked area. It is important that the entire plant layer is removed.
    2. Leveling the bottom and walls of the pit. To complete the task, any heavy device is suitable: a piece of timber with a strong wooden or metal plate nailed to its end, or a container half-filled with stones. It is not necessary to spare neither effort nor time to complete this stage of work: the more dense the floor in the chicken coop is, the longer it will last.
    3. Formation of the clay layer. A clay layer at the bottom of the pit is necessary to prevent the penetration of ground and melt water. The optimal layer thickness is 10–12 cm. When choosing clay, its properties are taken into account: oily clay is more plastic and retains moisture better, while lean clay quickly collapses due to the frequent alternation of periods of moistening and drying. Clay is laid on the floor, having prepared dough on its basis. To do this, finely chop the straw or hemp fire and carefully mix the vegetable raw materials with clay. Plastic (oily) is easier to work with. A layer 7–10 cm thick is formed from this dough, leveled and rammed.
    4. Drying of the clay layer. If the work is performed outdoors, it is necessary to provide protection from rain. To do this, pegs are driven in around the perimeter of the pit and a plastic film is pulled over them so that good ventilation of the pit is ensured. If cracks appear in the clay layer, they are sealed with the same composition (you can also mix clay with lime) and wait for it to dry again.
    5. Formation of the earth layer. There is nothing difficult in performing this work: they fill the soil, level and compact it.

    If the site has a high GWL (groundwater level), it is recommended to make a multilayer floor consisting of layers of clay and soil. The thickness must be at least 20 cm. The floor surface is strengthened by pouring a layer of concrete and laying sheets of roofing material or other waterproofing material.

    It is not recommended to use roofing felt, since these canvases are made using petroleum products, which causes a specific smell of tar. It is easier to lay a litter on a concrete and waterproofed floor. Suitable floor surface materials:

    • linoleum;
    • plastic material;
    • sheet flat slate.

    To strengthen the bottom of the pit and its walls, compaction is performed by sprinkling the surface with small stones or broken bricks.

    Warming

    Underfloor heating can be done in several ways:

    • build the lower floor, taking as a basis the principles of frame housing construction;
    • by arranging heating with the help of pipes and carrier circulation (“warm floor” system);
    • with the help of UWhP (insulated Swedish plate).

    The most expensive second option is a warm floor with pipes and coolant. Its device is advisable only for large farms engaged in poultry farming on an ongoing basis, and are located in regions with harsh climatic conditions.

    First, they decide how to make the floor in the chicken coop so that it can be easily cleaned. The best option is a surface that can be easily washed under the pressure of water. It can be made using concrete, linoleum, porcelain stoneware.

    Frame warm floor

    To install such a floor, you will need the following materials and tools:

    • boards for a lag device with a section of 20/40 or less;
    • OSB sheets and / or moisture-resistant plywood with a thickness of at least 6 mm (can be replaced with planed floorboards);
    • wood screws;
    • mineral wool slabs (glass wool, stone, basalt) or polystyrene foam;
    • screwdriver or drill;
    • wood saw;
    • roulette;
    • construction bubble level at least 80 cm long.

    From what to make the floor in the chicken coop, they choose, focusing on the strength and thermal conductivity of the materials. Their hygroscopicity is also taken into account. For regions with a humid maritime climate and with a high groundwater level, it is not recommended to use mineral wool as a heater due to the high degree of hygroscopicity.

    If there is no other way out, it is necessary to ensure the ventilation of the lower floor with the help of a columnar foundation. It is important to treat all lumber with an antiseptic.

    Construction stages

    Following the following algorithm, the floor will be built correctly and will last for many years:

    1. Installation of the bottom trim. Regardless of the type of foundation erected, it is necessary to build the lower trim. It consists of well-dried wooden blocks with a section of 100/100 mm or 150/150 mm. You can use double (paired) boards of a smaller section. The lumber is laid on the foundation and fastened to the concrete with metal studs.
    2. Lag installation. The boards selected as a log are fastened with screws to the strapping bars in increments of 40–60 cm. When choosing a distance, the dimensions of the heat-insulating material are taken into account. The boards are attached to the harness so that they are located inside. Two mounting options are possible: the ends of the lag are fixed to the strapping bars using metal corners, or gaps are cut in the strapping bars and the ends of the logs are inserted into them.
    3. Hemming lag from below. In order to be able to lay heat-insulating material between the boards, they are hemmed from below with wooden slats in increments of 20-30 cm.
    4. Steam and waterproofing of the lower floor. Vapor barrier material is laid in the openings between the lags: specialized membranes or polyethylene. If foam is used, this stage of work is skipped.
    5. Laying of thermal insulation material. It is important that there are no gaps between the lags and the heat insulator plates. When using polystyrene foam, the slots can be filled with moisture-resistant and frost-resistant polyurethane foam.
    6. Floor device. Floorboards are stuffed over the log, sheet material is laid: OSB or plywood.

    How to make a floor in a chicken coop is decided at the design stage. In an already operated building, it is easier to pour a concrete floor than to build a frame floor in accordance with all the requirements of this technology.

    Concrete warm floor

    To prepare concrete you will need:

    • cement grade not lower than M400;
    • sand;
    • water;
    • gravel of medium fraction (20/40 mm).

    Sand and cement are taken in a ratio of 1: 3. To pour a concrete floor in a chicken coop, a layer 5–7 cm thick is enough. But even this thin layer must be reinforced. To do this, buy a metal mesh or tie it yourself from reinforcement bars and knitting wire.

    The grid is laid on a pre-prepared "pie", consisting of three layers:

    • sand (5 cm);
    • polystyrene (5 cm);
    • gravel (10 cm).

    Before laying the grid, the gravel is shed with a liquid concrete solution and it is allowed to harden (2–3 days). Further pouring of concrete is carried out in layers, leveling and compacting each batch with a bayonet shovel and a metal rod. This is necessary in order to expel air from the cement-sand mortar. If this is not done, there is a high risk of cracks and cavities on the ready-to-use floor.

    Wooden warm floor

    The floor in the chicken coop can be insulated by raising its level with the help of crates made of wooden blocks and putting heat-insulating material into the space between them. Suitable for this purpose:

    • dry needles and leaves;
    • expanded clay;
    • sawdust mixed with lime;
    • arbolite blocks;
    • mineral wool;
    • Styrofoam;
    • mounting foam or sprayed polystyrene foam.

    Lumber for crates is treated with a solution that prevents rotting and damage by insects. There are many options for underfloor heating in a chicken coop in order to choose the most suitable one in these conditions.

    • Loading...
    Top