Clarification please...

[aart]

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.

-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.

-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.

- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.

Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 5 years.

 

[aart]

I sift the sand and pick through the nesting boxes at least once a week.

Have you been thru a winter with this yet?
How many birds?

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

Have you been thru a winter with this yet?
How many birds?

No this is my first year, I currently have a small coop but am having a 10x8 built that I will also use sand in. I have 9 girls currently in that flock with 3 nesting boxes.

 

[aart]

No this is my first year, I currently have a small coop but am having a 10x8 built that I will also use sand in. I have 9 girls currently in that flock with 3 nesting boxes.

I've used PDZ and/or sand for 5 years now on my poop boards...
..stuff freezes up in winter, I wouldn't want to be walking on it.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

I've used PDZ and/or sand for 5 years now on my poop boards...
..stuff freezes up in winter, I wouldn't want to be walking on it.

So not good in large are?

 

[aart]

So not good in large are?

I deal with 24sqft at waist height and it can be PITA,
I certainly wouldn't do clean it up off the floor.

 

[HopeSprings]

I use about 2" of sand on my poop boards -- sifting the poop out is kind of like playing on the beach!
The floor is covered with vinyl flooring and wood shavings. The coop has only been in business for 6-7 weeks, so we'll see how long it goes before needing to be cleaned!

 

[Folly's place]

Generally sand on the floor seems to work best for very small flocks, in dry warm climates, with people who want to scoop the poop every day.
Here in damp and freezing Michigan, with around forty birds, there's NO WAY that daily poop patrol would be worth the effort! I have deep litter, mostly baled shavings, and add some sometimes, and clean it out two or three times each year.
Try something, and see how it works for you, and be ready to try something else if Plan A isn't a good fit.
Mary

 

[aart]

I use about 2" of sand on my poop boards -- sifting the poop out is kind of like playing on the beach!

That might change once they start laying and the poops triple in size!

I started with about 3/4-1" of sand/PDZ on the boards,
and they loved to dust bathe in it, scattering it all over!
Now I only use ~1/8" and sift every bit every day or two...then add some when needed to cover boards. I learned when using sand/PDZ as substrate in the brooder that you can't get every bit of poop and eventually the substrate becomes saturated with pulverized poop....and stinks! Ended up using that stinky mix to fill holes in the yard from an auto accident.