Sound Rollers
130 posts
Dec 02, 2009
3:28 PM
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What medium should I use over a painted wood loft floor? Would cedar chips be ok? Walmart has a good deal on bales.
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1536 posts
Dec 02, 2009
3:51 PM
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John, I use sterilized play sand, $3to$4 for 50# at Lowe's. I sieve it through a large kitchen strainer, discard the nasty and spread it out again. It does not hold any odor, won't blow around, and clumps like cat litter if any water is spilt.
Thom
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Sound Rollers
131 posts
Dec 02, 2009
3:57 PM
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Thom, I'm guessing the birds eating the sand is not a problem? How many bags would it take to cover 8 x 6 floor?
John
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1539 posts
Dec 02, 2009
4:20 PM
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John, My individual pens are 5'x5' and one 50# bag is more then enough. I have used sand for 4 years, the birds love to peck around in it right after I clean. As you know, mice droppings are a big concern, so I clean everyday, first thing in the morning with lights on. The kitchen strainer I use is very fine and gets all dropped food, poop,feathers and any other material that might be in the sand. I would not use the sand if water is a problem as it clumps like cat litter. If, clumsy me spills water, I just scoop up the wet sand, store it in a container until it dries, then clean and return it to the floor.
Thom
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Velo99
2229 posts
Dec 02, 2009
4:30 PM
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Stove pellets hands down over anything else I have used. Cedar shavings fly around when the birds flap their wings. Sand is okay if you live in a really dry environment. Rake the big stuff up and change it once a year. I used 3 bags in a 4x10 area and it was a little too much. Its easier to add a little if it doesnt seem to be enough.
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V99
blue sky single beat
in cadance performing now
earth beckons the winged
drawn breath is let quickly forth
orchestral movement follows
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/()_)__14___()_)\__\
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markw
21 posts
Dec 02, 2009
4:52 PM
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Since I mainly have Parlor Rollers I thought I could add something here. I have tried them all but my favorite is a product called "Best Cob"
It is used for horse stalls and is made by grinding up corn cobs them compressing them into pellet form.My Parlor stalls are 2'x2'x 4' so I use a cat litter sifter after it breaks down some and can sift out droppings,feather,etc. They make a certain type of fork like a manure pic (there's one in the Foy's catalog)that would work great for flying rollers.Hope this helps a bit,LOL
Last Edited by on Dec 02, 2009 4:53 PM
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Ballrollers
GOLD MEMBER
2196 posts
Dec 02, 2009
5:25 PM
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John,
I have used nothing but cedar chips for the past five years and have never had a problem with them. They are cheap, warm for squabs and weaning youngsters in winter breeding, very absorbent, and keep pests down. It also helps the young innocualte themselves with good bacteria as they pick through it. I use a 6-8 inch layer on the loft floor and also use it in the nest boxes. If you put the waterers up on a 3-4inch concrete block you will keep the chips out of the waterers for the most part. When I clean them out, once a year, they are bone dry with no mold or fungus growth. Good luck.
Cliff
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fhtfire
2260 posts
Dec 02, 2009
10:23 PM
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WOOD PELLETS--no dust...no flying around with wing wind....easy to clean..you just keep adding more and they last ALONG TIME.....and they too are cheap...I have used it all and wood pellets are by far the best!!
rock and ROLL
Paul
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JBow
138 posts
Dec 02, 2009
11:23 PM
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Stove pellets. Well heres my story. I heard they were good for floor cover. about two weeks before i got the wood pellets i got my stock cocks and stock hens eating purina pigeon chow checkers. I was really surprised how all of them took to the pellets. well the hens i keep on pine flooring but the cocks i switched to the oak wood pellets. All was fine then i noticed some of the cocks actig like they were constipated and looking like the need to lay a egg or grap lol.I cleaned out the pellets and put in pine shavings and pulled the water for a afternoon and gave them ebsom salts. all was fine the next day lol
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Windjammer Loft
1014 posts
Dec 03, 2009
4:49 AM
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This is another one of those touchy subjects....LOL Ya get bunches of different answers. I have experimented with all that have been mentioned and more. At the present time I am using cedar and wood shavings mixed. Only problem I see is the fact that the shavings have a tendency to blow around when the birds get anxious at feeding time and start flapping their wings with excitiment....
Fly High and Roll On
Paul
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rookie from ct
GOLD MEMBER
178 posts
Dec 03, 2009
8:03 AM
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John i do the same as Windjammer pine add cedar shavings it not to hard to clean if you
keep up on it.They also make a wood pellet for horse stalls that i will try in spring when the birds are back together on top of the shavings because like Paul said they do blow around a bit. Dennis (you ready yet)
Last Edited by on Dec 03, 2009 8:04 AM
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katyroller
666 posts
Dec 03, 2009
1:40 PM
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My vote is for the wood pellets. I can see how one or two birds could mistaken them for the Purina Checkers. JBow, those birds must have been hungry. My birds won't touch the Checkers because they are so big. They love the Nutri Blend green.
Tracey
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markw
22 posts
Dec 03, 2009
1:42 PM
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Hey Paul,
My birds have a little Mustin and Duez in them.A couple of years ago I bought a Mustin/Duez cockbird from Larry Jensen and a Duez Black Self hen from Rod Ferguson.Bred them and ended up with mostly cockbirds then last fall picked up a couple of hens from Rod.
Anyway, been having a great year with them.My daughter was champion at the NYBS and was the first Junior to win it ever.
Yes, I am a member of the APRA and actually, come January will be the new President of the club.
Take care,
Mark W.
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fhtfire
2262 posts
Dec 03, 2009
2:38 PM
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That is wierd about the birds eating the pellets...usually your stock birds are always full and wont eat just anything like the kit birds..anyway..I feed my birds pellets and they have yet to eat the wood pellets...but I dont see how they could..the wood pellets are huge....been on the for about 2 years now.
rock and ROLL
Paul
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steve49
353 posts
Dec 03, 2009
2:41 PM
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there's also the option of using a wire floor, and a bin or container underneath to catch droppings. you don't ever have to deal with dust, and various floor materials. my new loft design will include this 1x2 wire mesh, or some other strong metal grating that will allow me to walk on it, plus allow the droppings to fall thru.
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Steve in Blue Point, NY
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Sound Rollers
133 posts
Dec 03, 2009
4:08 PM
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Steve the wire floor is not an option at this time, I think I'm going to use cedar chips for now. Thanks to all for the suggestions.
John
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winwardrollers
346 posts
Dec 03, 2009
5:01 PM
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Paul
You say that the wood pellets have been on the floor for two years now...how do you go about cleaning or separating the poop from wood pellet..or does the poop break up in a powder and work its way under the wood pellet?
How big are the wood pellets 1x1 , 2x2
bwinward
Last Edited by on Dec 03, 2009 5:06 PM
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Scott
2668 posts
Dec 03, 2009
10:00 PM
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Never any problems here with the wood pellets , in fack nothing assorbs like them. Paul say's keep adding , I find they keep growing as they expand and have to move out LOL
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Scott Campbell
" God Bless "
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TheGame
666 posts
Dec 03, 2009
10:15 PM
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I used to have bare wood floor but switched over to wood pellets and love it so far. It doesnt blow around like some other substrates and it does a great job of absorbing any water that gets into the loft. My lofts floor is 4ft x 8ft and I only used a bag and a half.
I can get 40lb bags for around $4.50. I have put the wood pellets into the loft a few months ago and yet have cleaned it out once. Another thing I have noticed is that birds feets stay clean.
Cleaning should be easy with a rake, just sifting over the top. You can try finding wood pellets on craigslist in your area.
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fhtfire
2263 posts
Dec 03, 2009
10:16 PM
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Win,
I just keep raking them...I rake them about once a week...just gently....and it just scrapes off the top layer......of poop mostly...as you know they will break down to a saw dust in time...and that makes it easier.....Basically I just take a layer off with the rake...and of course a little stays on top but not much and you will take a little pellet with you but not much..and has the pellets get old they turn to more like saw dust...I just love them man.
Scott is right...that is why I have no really had to add any...I take that back...I had a split bag for my stove and they got moisture in them..so I took about half a bag and dumped it in the box...but you are right. scott....you rake the first six months and as you remove pellets they get bigger as they break down....
I dont use a close blade leaf rake....I use the rake that has wider teeth...just you standard yard rake....and just let the weight of the rake rest on the floor and I just drag it across...and the poop come with it....If people are coming over...I drag a broom across it and it looks like a well groomed sand trap...LOL
rock and ROLL
Paul
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TheGame
668 posts
Dec 03, 2009
10:33 PM
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I only started using wood pellets after I read it on another thread and you mentioned it Paul lol haha.
Thanks!
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Square
764 posts
Dec 04, 2009
9:38 AM
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Well for me it has been "Dry Stall" most feed stores have it avilible... However I have found over the years its become more expensive... So now I just go to the auto parts store and grab acoupe of bags of "asorball"...Ive been using it for years,, keeps everything nice and dry... I romove it probally once a month... Once the floor is bare I sprinkle alittle 7dust or poultry powder on the floor befor covering it with the absorball/drystall.. Good luck..
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"Home of the Ghost Town Roller"
K.C.R.C
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JBow
139 posts
Dec 04, 2009
10:45 AM
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Paul, Scott The stove pellets here are about 1/4 by 1". I Talked to Dave Vang and he said his are a lot bigger then that. It was probably due to the fact that i had just started the birds on checkers just getting them used to them because i will useing them during breeding. Anyway it scared the stuffing out of me. I really thought i was going to have some dead birds on my hands. I'll stay with pine shaving. I get a bail for 4.99and it lasts a long time. And they smell better then the oak pellets. I'm sure what happened they found some broken pieces and ate them and of course they swelled up inside of them. The best floor covering i think is ground corn cobbs. Richard Miller used to use them and when he came here a couple summmers ago he had some in the bird boxes. I used them there nice to use. Jim Bowen
Last Edited by on Dec 04, 2009 11:05 AM
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T.K.
12 posts
Dec 04, 2009
11:00 AM
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I have been useing wood pellets for most of this year, and they have by far been the best floor covering that I have found to work here in Mi. where it can be dry,damp, or freezing. Everything dries quickly and this time of yr. I can clean the floors and add some new and burn the old pellets/droppings mix in my workshop woodstove for the heat. Win-Win situation. Terry
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roller alley
186 posts
Dec 04, 2009
10:19 PM
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i have used cedar chips for 4 years they were great for keeping the youngsters warm,but now that i have gone individual,there is no need,i do wash out the floor about once a month and the coop is dander free,with light sweeping in between,no fighting between cocks,no guessing paternity,and the squabs do get fed very nicely now
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