Cleaning run

[CEO]

You should really be able to access every part of the coop and run.
Got pics of your run?

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 7 years.

I think I’ll try deep litter. Do you think it’s good for preventing diseases?

 

[3KillerBs]

I think I’ll try deep litter. Do you think it’s good for preventing diseases?

Offering plenty of space and practicing good sanitation always promote good health.

Could you show us photos of the run that you can't access? Maybe we can help you figure out how to modify it.

 

[CEO]

Offering plenty of space and practicing good sanitation always promote good health.

Could you show us photos of the run that you can't access? Maybe we can help you figure out how to modify it.

 

[CEO]

The main problem is the door being too small for humans to fit in. And if you wanted to clean you have to crawl in.

 

[3KillerBs]

The main problem is the door being too small for humans to fit in. And if you wanted to clean you have to crawl in.

Yeah, those tiny pre-fabs are a problem that way.

Long-handled tools help, but most people end up either heavily modifying them or replacing them with something better-designed.

Here's a current thread where a person is documenting the changes to this same model of pre-fab: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/tsc-coop-mod-project.1487371/

 

[CEO]

You should really be able to access every part of the coop and run.
Got pics of your run?

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 7 years.

I put some pics

 

[CEO]

If you want something that doesn't require frequent cleaning and live in a rainy area -- especially if your run isn't roofed -- then Deep Litter is probably a better choice for you than sand.

Chunky wood chips of the sort you get from a tree trimming service are often considered the gold standard for this purpose because they stay well-aerated, can absorb a lot of water, and take a long time to break down.

My run is mostly pine straw because I'm in the US southeast and have Longleaf and Loblolly pines on my property so this material is free for the raking. In addition to being free, I like the fact that pine straw resists packing/matting and that the top layer dries out quickly after even the heaviest rain.

Do I still have to clean if I do this? aart says they don’t clean run.

 

[Katanahamon]

Yes..my coop and run are located over a decline, so, they can go under the coop, which is great for hot weather. I just spray some water at night, next day, nice and cool.. It’s not impossible but, cleaning the underneath of the coop I haven’t attempted yet. It’s freakishly dry here, the poop dessicates in about..98 seconds. I got a hoe online I thought I could scrape with, but the head turned out to be very much smaller than the picture indicated. I guess I can dress in clothes that I could burn, and crawl around under there, or, wait until they’re old enough to be able to freerange in the yard and use a super blast of water to flood the stuff out to be picked up..

edit..I clean the coop and rest of the run daily, scrape up, pick up poop. I have given up on feathers, though..
edit again..sand is tricky. You have to get sand that won’t harm their respiratory system. I’ve gotten hemp bedding, and used up the pine shavings with it. Works terrifically here in Salt Lake. For the run I covered it with shade cloth, cause, 106 is brutal no matter how dry, and I’ve been throwing bags of bark chips, and bark mulch in the run. With the decline, I swear, they’ve moved all the mulch to fill in the slope..it’s all moving to the downhill side!

 

[3KillerBs]

Do I still have to clean if I do this? aart says they don’t clean run.

Unfortunately, part of the problem with those tiny, pre-fab coops is that the coop portion is not large enough to do a good layer of Deep Bedding (did you read the article?), and the run is too small to allow the Deep Litter to develop a good balance.

With that coop you will need to be cleaning more than you probably want to. But using Deep Bedding and Deep Litter to the extent possible will reduce the frequency of cleaning.

 

[Katanahamon]

Do I still have to clean if I do this? aart says they don’t clean run.

My motto is “if I see poop..I pick it up..”