Cleaning feeders and waterers (indoors vs. outdoors)

[K0k0shka]

Good to know.....that checks one thing off my list! The coop is brand new and gets swept out and bedding changed at least once a week, so I'm golden there. Thanks for saving me from my own torture!

I can save you from more! You don't need to sweep it out and change the bedding every week, either! If your coop isn't overcrowded (has at least 4 square feet per chicken), and if you use a deep bed of pine shavings, you can afford to change the bedding out a lot less frequently than that. I change mine out twice a year, and I don't even have poop boards! If you have poop boards, you can go even longer than that. Just stir it around every once in a while so the poop gets mixed in with the shaving and dries out. Dry poop doesn't smell and is not a sanitation problem. Throw new shavings on top every once in a while. As long as there's still more shavings than poop in the mix, you're good! It doesn't need to be pristine.

 

[Folly's place]

Missy, do make sure that your waterers aren't damaged if the water does freeze in them!
And definitely don't hose out a wooden coop, or any coop except in very warm sunny weather.
Our wood coop would probably melt if we hosed it out! And @kokoshka is so right about cleaning too!
Mary

 

[Missyschix13]

I can save you from more! You don't need to sweep it out and change the bedding every week, either! If your coop isn't overcrowded (has at least 4 square feet per chicken), and if you use a deep bed of pine shavings, you can afford to change the bedding out a lot less frequently than that. I change mine out twice a year, and I don't even have poop boards! If you have poop boards, you can go even longer than that. Just stir it around every once in a while so the poop gets mixed in with the shaving and dries out. Dry poop doesn't smell and is not a sanitation problem. Throw new shavings on top every once in a while. As long as there's still more shavings than poop in the mix, you're good! It doesn't need to be pristine.

The coop is pretty tight and not huge. They have a huge run though. The coop is only big enough for 6 chickens (I have 4 hens and a rooster) but we all know that's not accurate. And they surely didn't have my very large rooster in there either....but then again neither did I. Lol I was cleaning less frequently over the summer and just throwing new shaving on top but now that the days are shorter I'm finding that more challenging. But it could be I just need to get into a winter groove. I'm certainly not going to want to do anything more than throw new shavings in over the winter if it gets too cold. Lol thanks again....this is awesome

 

[3KillerBs]

I can save you from more! You don't need to sweep it out and change the bedding every week, either! If your coop isn't overcrowded (has at least 4 square feet per chicken), and if you use a deep bed of pine shavings, you can afford to change the bedding out a lot less frequently than that. I change mine out twice a year, and I don't even have poop boards! If you have poop boards, you can go even longer than that. Just stir it around every once in a while so the poop gets mixed in with the shaving and dries out. Dry poop doesn't smell and is not a sanitation problem. Throw new shavings on top every once in a while. As long as there's still more shavings than poop in the mix, you're good! It doesn't need to be pristine.

This is good advice.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/using-deep-bedding-in-a-small-coop.76343/

 

[K0k0shka]

The coop is only big enough for 6 chickens (I have 4 hens and a rooster) but we all know that's not accurate.

Big enough according to what? The manufacturer? Do you have one of those cute but way too small prefabs that boast unrealistic capacity? Having a tight coop in the winter sucks... Especially if your run isn't weather proof. Chickens hate snow. They also hate strong winds, because those ruffle their feathers and break the insulating bubble of air underneath that keeps them warm. PA gets snow, and cold winters. If your chickens decide they don't want to go out for the day (or the week), what then? If they are tight, they'll fight, they'll fill the space with poop, you'll need to clean more often, and deal with bullying and potential bloodshed... A tight coop is just problems waiting to happen (I won't even get into ventilation... another common problem of tight coops). So, before winter really sets in, think about what your game plan is for bad weather, and spaces your chickens can occupy in bad weather. A very common misconception is that the coop is where the chickens "only" sleep and lay, so it can afford to be tiny. That's not true. Especially not in cold climates, where the chickens might find themselves stuck inside for extended periods of time during showstorms, or especially bad weather, or if your run isn't covered and protected, or if you just don't feel like shoveling today.

 

[Missyschix13]

Big enough according to what? The manufacturer? Do you have one of those cute but way too small prefabs that boast unrealistic capacity? Having a tight coop in the winter sucks... Especially if your run isn't weather proof. Chickens hate snow. They also hate strong winds, because those ruffle their feathers and break the insulating bubble of air underneath that keeps them warm. PA gets snow, and cold winters. If your chickens decide they don't want to go out for the day (or the week), what then? If they are tight, they'll fight, they'll fill the space with poop, you'll need to clean more often, and deal with bullying and potential bloodshed... A tight coop is just problems waiting to happen (I won't even get into ventilation... another common problem of tight coops). So, before winter really sets in, think about what your game plan is for bad weather, and spaces your chickens can occupy in bad weather. A very common misconception is that the coop is where the chickens "only" sleep and lay, so it can afford to be tiny. That's not true. Especially not in cold climates, where the chickens might find themselves stuck inside for extended periods of time during showstorms, or especially bad weather, or if your run isn't covered and protected, or if you just don't feel like shoveling today.

No it's not cute prefab....it's an Amish built elevated coop. And I have a large hoop run and I am going to be in closing the run to keep out the snow and wind. I had stated that previously.

Big enough according to what? The manufacturer? Do you have one of those cute but way too small prefabs that boast unrealistic capacity? Having a tight coop in the winter sucks... Especially if your run isn't weather proof. Chickens hate snow. They also hate strong winds, because those ruffle their feathers and break the insulating bubble of air underneath that keeps them warm. PA gets snow, and cold winters. If your chickens decide they don't want to go out for the day (or the week), what then? If they are tight, they'll fight, they'll fill the space with poop, you'll need to clean more often, and deal with bullying and potential bloodshed... A tight coop is just problems waiting to happen (I won't even get into ventilation... another common problem of tight coops). So, before winter really sets in, think about what your game plan is for bad weather, and spaces your chickens can occupy in bad weather. A very common misconception is that the coop is where the chickens "only" sleep and lay, so it can afford to be tiny. That's not true. Especially not in cold climates, where the chickens might find themselves stuck inside for extended periods of time during showstorms, or especially bad weather, or if your run isn't covered and protected, or if you just don't feel like shoveling today.

No it's not cute prefab.....it's an Amish built elevated coop with a large run we built. The coop has plenty of ventilation. And I'm going to be enclosing the run for the winter, which I stated previously. I do have a game plan. I appreciate your help but please don't be assumptive. And I'm sure it's big enough but not as big as I would like.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

If you do a forum search there was another thread with someone asking about feeder and waterer ideas. I posted this pic of my set up. Summer is the only time I use a hose, winter is cake as this is always filled up by rain water and the cup's (ordered off Amazon,) that I've installed at the bottom have screen filters on the inside so they don't get too dirty. A little dirty I guess, but I can just flush they out and/or wipe them out. Personally, I would not want to wash buckets in my house either. You'll find a better way!!

 

[Clucktown]

My chickens have been coming in the house for years to sleep in their dog crate when outside temps are either too hot or too cold. My family is still alive and well! You will survive washing your waterer in the kitchen sink, I assure you. If the horse could fit through the door, my daughter would likely bring her home as well.

 

[AGeese]

Too cold here during the winter to use the hose, thankfully I have a wash sink in the basement. I don't worry about sterilizing, but make sure the gunk doesn't build up.

Edit: I also have backup drinkers which I keep ready with clean water and swap them out.

 

[Lil TexHens]

Not here to knock what anyone else does… just sharing what I do.

I have a dedicated sink inside just for cleaning my chicken waterers and feeders. I realize that would not work for most folk, but… cleaning outside, using a plastic bin, works too.

I clean my waterers out daily and feeders once a week. I use hot soapy water and allow them to air dry completely. That way I avoid biofilm in my waterers and mold in my feeders.

Oh, and I’m huge proponent of nipples drinkers/waterers. I use horizontal and vertical nipples depending on the time of year. I, also, make sure to use plastic plant saucers to catch the drips.

Oh, and I don’t use bell style waterers for this reason:

Here is an article on biofilm:
https://www.muranochickenfarm.com/2018/02/clean-chicken-water.html