I will NEVER clean that often.
So, I have almost 50 birds. I use washed river sand in my coop and a light layer (with PDZ) on my poo boards. Every 3 days I rake my boards and dispose of about 15 to 20 gallons worth of poo. I scrape any poos off the roost that might have gotten there. I rake what's on the coop floor. Then add more sand if it seems to shallow.
I used to use the litter scoop until I realized my flock was too big for that to work in a reasonable amount of time. And started remembering how we did it when I volunteered at the zoo rehab center.
I have seen red mites. I live in the PNW where wild animals abound!
Never have used DE and don't like it. Just standard dirt bath. Will probably spray with Permethrin if I ever need to. Used all new lumber in our coop. My vet SWEARS that I need to treat for fleas and ticks. But after being here for 2 years, haven't had a single one on my 3 dogs, 2 goats, or 48 chickens. We sleep with the dogs and anything that will bite is going to bite my husband. Plus the way the dogs love tummy rubs always gives a good chance for inspection. And although I do believe an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, I refuse to treat with chemicals for what I don't have! In no way do I believe my property is safe or I do things any better. I've just been fortunate
so far. The big problem for my dogs is actually mosquitoes.
My Mother in Love thinks by switching her dishes around to different cupboard often she won't get cockroaches.
Now that is silly! If only it were that easy. Haven't had to live with them as an adult, but I could probably tell some childhood nightmares.
When I lived in the valley I would hit a nest of them in the garden sometimes and the girls sure liked them.
No matter how clean we try to keep things, the chickens will sample the poo that just hit the ground from another chicken.
I clean before there is any heavy smell in the air. The amount of cleaning one must do though is dependent on their set up. With lots of space in the coop and most out on pasture all day, less cleaning. But when it's raining and they all stay inside I have to clean more often. I also don't keep my feed in the coop so they aren't pooing in there every time they are standing around eating. I only have shaving in my nest boxes and when I have chicks.
Yes, I think you might be on overkill a little with the cleaning, unless your space is too small. Less often would give you more energy, probably. You might be able to sleep that extra 10 minutes.
And, I also would consider setting the Silkies up in their own permanent space. Might save you some time. To me time is money and mine is more valuable than gold, once it's gone you can't make more.
The learning curve is so big that even 5 years later I am still making adjustments as I learn what works and doesn't for me. Experience is the mother of all teachers (ha you're a teacher). What looks great on paper doesn't always transfer to real life. People with experience make it look easy. But they only got there by practice. I still have more things to learn. Funny it seems like the more I know, the less I know. At least the more I know the more I know what I don't know! How's that for silly?
ha ha. Six years until retirement ha ha.
