Cleaning Poop ON Hen House?

[echo81577]

This hen house is 8 ft by 3 ft I have 12 birds. I do not all close the doors at night so they can leave when they are ready in the morning. A few of the birds have decided they would rather roost on top of it which makes cleaning the shingles nearly impossible. It's fine right now because it's still winter and doesn't stink so much but come summer, it is going to stink and draw flies. I have sand on the bottom of my run which I scoop and rake. Suggestions for either keeping the birds off of the hen house or cleaning it easily? EDITED: I will not be locking them in at night. The run is completely safe and I want them to be free to eat in the a.m.

 

[Brooks_]

Close them in at night. Though I suspect some are sleeping out because it is too small.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Lock them in at night or hose down the roof.
EDIT: did not see the coop measurements thought it was much larger. DO NOT lock them in. They need a bigger one.

 

[Mamatomany123]

I'm guessing they're sleeping on it because it's too small inside for everyone.

 

[Mamatomany123]

I would most definitely not lock them in at night. You have 12 birds in a coop big enough for 6 max. Locking them in a too small coop is a good way to end up with pecking, fighting, or even dead chickens.

 

[black_cat]

Getting a bigger coop will solve both problems. For 12 birds, you should have at LEAST 48 square feet, preferably 60+.

 

[echo81577]

Thank you, all. I am planning on adding 4 female ducks in May and building them an on-the-ground structure, so we'll add a chicken coop addition on top of that! Does anyone have an example of something similar to that structure design that has worked for them?

 

[3KillerBs]

Where are you located?

If you're in a warm climate, your lovely, roofed run could be turned into an open-air coop by adding a few wall panels on the windward side.

 

[Chikibabymom]

My run is also fully covered with chicken wire so I don’t close the coop at night. I would add areas to roost around the run so that they can roost there instead of on the roof. Some of my chickens have always preferred sleeping outside on some large tree branches I have propped up instead of inside the coop which they mainly use for egg laying. If you live in a warm climate like I do, they may just enjoy the breeze at night.

 

[echo81577]

Where are you located?

If you're in a warm climate, your lovely, roofed run could be turned into an open-air coop by adding a few wall panels on the windward side.

Thank you! My husband and brother built it and we are quite proud of how it has turned out. I am in Greenville, South Carolina with mild winters with occasional bursts of cold but nothing which needs to be closed in all the time.