chicken coop cleaning/cat litter

[molly]

I live where its very cold in the winter. Its hard to clean out my chickens coop as often as I like.I have straw on the floor but,my chicken get up on there nesting boxes and poop all over. I read about putting cat litter on it. But is this safe?I put straw on the top but they knock it all off .Any suggestions?

 

[jab91864]

I find pine shavings are easier than straw to deal with in the winter. The gals have an easier time scratching it around and I have an easier time scooping it out when needed.

Basically in the winter I rely on the deep litter method and don't do much changing.

I've never used cat litter, sorry no help there.

Julie

 

[patandchickens]

I do not know for sure whether cat litter is safe but I wouldn't try it and I suspect that it would get knocked off the top of the nestboxes almost immediately.

BUT, just keep the chickens off the nestboxes in the first place and problem solved

Like, make a sloped rather than flat top (you could just rig a sloped board atop what's already there). Presto

IMO shavings are easier to clean, esp. when neglected a while, than straw. Not everyone feels this way, of course, and price may come into it (some people can get shavings cheaper, others straw cheaper). If the price is about comparable for you, you might try shavings.

Good luck,

Pat

 

[joshplus10]

I've used "natural" cat litter - clay with no additives - in my chicken nursery from day one with no obvious ill effects. For a few weeks I cover the litter with burlap - just in case the babies might be inclined to eat it.

I also put a layer of litter under a deeper layer of sand inside my chicken coop before covering all with wood shavings.