Chicken Manure everywhere

[ConcreteWaves]

For me, sand in the coop and poop board is the only way to go.  EZY PEEZY.  I clean the dirt/grass run every evening and the poop board every morning.  Nesting boxes are under the poop board avoiding direct hits.

My biggest concern is being able to get the poop from the poop board under the pole every few days and adding it to my compost mixture for growing mushrooms. So i dont think i wanna add sand, but how bout just straw and the manure they poop onto it, cuz i can mix the straw/manure in with my coco coir compost mix.

 

[KofLee]

I use rice hulls for the coop. 10cf for 12$ at my local feed store. It scoops better when cleaning & breaks down in my compost quicker than pine shavings. Just my two cents. K

 

[cmarlowdrive]

I use a 5 gal bucket w lid and when it is full I dump it in my compost bin. 10 birds make a lot of poop in one day. I use a cat liter scoop for picking up poop. It is so easy. I like that I don't have to spend a lot of time cleaning up. Use what works for you.

 

[Intheswamp]

I have taken the time this morning to read the replies and cant thank you enough.

I will close off the nesting boxes and clean them out completely.

Im going to clean the floor and start fresh with the deep litter method n put organic matter down in the run, and for the coop ill use pine shavings and straw.

Here are pics of my setup i took this morning, ill prolly also post in coop setup thread to ask for criticism on what i can do to make it better. But yep here is my setup, and my roosting pole isnt the highest point. That can be fixed.

Good move on shutting off the nest boxes.

What are the partitioned areas on the shelves in front of the windows? Are those the nest boxes?

Use a 2x4 for your roost bars...round off the edges.

Use a flat piece of plywood with a "rim" around it for the dropping board. You will need to build a support system for the poop board..just a couple of braces to hold the board in place. Leave a gap in the rim for a place to scrape poop off the board and into a bucket.

Yeah, I'd want something on the floor if for no other reason than not to be slipping and sliding around on chicken poop.

It'll help the chickens, too, they can easily get hurt by slippery surfaces. Straw and wood chips should work well.

Add more cleats in between the current ones on the walkways...a couple more between them.

Is the opposite end of the coop wide open? If not, I think you need more ventilation. What part of the country are you located in?

Ed

 

[Intheswamp]

I use rice hulls for the coop. 10cf for 12$ at my local feed store. It scoops better when cleaning & breaks down in my compost quicker than pine shavings. Just my two cents. K

How long have you been using rice hulls?

Thanks,
Ed

 

[KofLee]

I started with pine shavings, couldn't decide & got both. Been using the rice hulls for about two months. I still have pine shavings in my compost from Feb (new to composting too).

 

[ConcreteWaves]

Good move on shutting off the nest boxes.

What are the partitioned areas on the shelves in front of the windows?  Are those the nest boxes?

Use a 2x4 for your roost bars...round off the edges.

Use a flat piece of plywood with a "rim" around it for the dropping board.  You will need to build a support system for the poop board..just a couple of braces to hold the board in place.  Leave a gap in the rim for a place to scrape poop off the board and into a bucket.

Yeah, I'd want something on the floor if for no other reason than not to be slipping and sliding around on chicken poop.    It'll help the chickens, too, they can easily get hurt by slippery surfaces.  Straw and wood chips should work well.

Add more cleats in between the current ones on the walkways...a couple more between them.

Is the opposite end of the coop wide open?  If not, I think you need more ventilation.  What part of the country are you located in?

Ed

Yep those are nesting boxes infront of the windows. The windoes open and close for easy grabbing at the eggs. But, i was going to add some thin ply, into a routed trim piece, to slide up and down to be able to "close off/shut" the poultry wire window.

Ok ill add more cleats to the ramps.

I like your idea of leaving a side of the poop board off so i can scrape all the poo off easy into a bucket, at first i was thinking i gotta move the poop board everyday or whenever its time to add it to compost but that makes things easy.

Yes, the other side, where i took the pictures from. Its completely open. The run is entirely closed off, so the coop isnt closed off. I was gonna figure out maybe putting something up for winter months.

My roosting pole, is a 2x4, ripped down to 1 3/4" and then the corners cut off at an angle so its kinda "rounded" ill take a pic when i get off work.

Ill also take a few more coop pics from another angle. I believe even if i closed off th entrance to the coop, my eves are open (but poultry wired) and i believe thatll serve as good ventilation. Maybe, im no expert, yet. but if i gotta cut a hole and literally put a vent i will.

 

[MeepBeep]

I use rice hulls for the coop. 10cf for 12$ at my local feed store. It scoops better when cleaning & breaks down in my compost quicker than pine shavings. Just my two cents. K

The problem with rice hulls is that they are mostly a region thing, might be a great alternative if you can find them locally but for others like myself it's not really a viable alternative at all... Around me the only place that will carry them is possibly some season garden shop or brew shops, and both will charge a huge premium...

To the OP, try putting a 2nd roosting bar about 8" off the ground bellow you current one to encourage the young birds to roost... Yeah they like high places but many times the young prefer low roost they can easily get on from the ground vs taking a ramp and walkway...

 

[ConcreteWaves]

Also, how bout pine, evergreen, and aspen wood chips. Cuz i got a crap ton of that at work.

 

[aart]

You want your shavings to be dry and fairly large or they're dustier......they also won't break down very quick (at all) for compost.
Best to have your roost higher than your nests...or they will roost(sleep) and poop in nests
I'd just get rid of that upper nest bank 3 nests is enough for 9 birds...put some HC over it and use for ventilation.
Your chicken wire run(and thus your coop) is not predator proof...chicken wire is good for keeping chicken in but lot of nasty critters can get thru it.

What is you climate?
Putting your location in your profile can help folks give better answers/suggestions.