Anyone else doing a MAJOR cleaning of their coop?

[Opa]

Quote:
A lot depends upon what you are using for bedding, how deep the bedding is, and do you detect a strong smell of ammonia. Since we live in the same town if I can help in any way pm me.

 

[jwchicklady]

the bedding is pine shavings, it does not smell like ammonia in there. will mold grow underneath? or will dry shavings help dry out the underneath stuff if mixed in together.

 

[Opa]

Remove the wettest, and dry shavings will help to dry out the damp. You could also mix in some Stall-Dri (available from TSC) Mold, particularily this time of year, shouldn't be a problem.

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

Not us. Its still the dead of winter in Alaska.
The coop has a good 2 feet of poo and hay layered up.
Our chickens work it over fairly well, and we do not have much of a smell.
Its insulating the floor as well.
Twice a week, I spread more hay for them on top.

The goal is, come April, we will shovel it out, shovel the snow off the garden area as best we can,
and spread the manure all over the plot.

 

[TipsyDog]

It went above freezing today for the first time in several weeks!

I scrape the poop board everyday and generally pick-up but I think tomorrow I will clean it all out and wash the coop down. Dust is my biggest problem in there. It's everywhere! I'll also rake out the run and have a talk with the girls about their slacking egg production suddenly. It's a long winter around here

 

[Opa]

Quote:
You might try telling them you knew Harlan Sanders and then show them an empty KFC bucket. I tried it with mine. It didn't work but I seldom talk to my birds so they weren't used to listening to me.

 

[The Chicken People]

I gotta clean house tomorrow because I am leaving the Ladies and a bator full with the kids for about three days so I can go to Fort Smith for my Uncles heart surgery!

 

[yotetrapper]

I'd like to, but I doubt it will get done till spring. Snow drifts too deep, and if they melt will be soggy mud. Maybe, just maybe, if a day off coincides with a frozen ground day with no snow........ ahhh heck, June sounds ok.

 

[speckledhen]

Day before yesterday, we removed all shavings, swept out the floors, then used the big compressor with air hose to blow out all the dust which was collecting on every surface, including the walls. Didn't sand and oil the roosts this time, but there is new straw in the nests sprinkled with DE and I did spray Orange Guard in some places to kill any bugs that might wander in.

 

[Chickenaddict]

I went with the deep litter method in the coop and run again this year so I add DE and turn it over once a week and add more to it. Straw in the run and pine shavings in the coop. I'd have to gut the entire double garage if I was to clean it out and its too darn cold out to do anything as well as too much snow.