cleaning the coop

[love2chicken]

how often should i clean out the coop and the run i have 8 hens. I have been told i clean it out to much and wasting money. I clean it out about every 2 weeks and the run about the same maybe 3 week at most. I live south of seattle so we get a lot of rain. i put woodchips in the coop and hay in the run to help keep the mud down. any info would help clean more or less thanks

 

[Cargo]

Go with your gut. Your coop can never be too clean.

 

[vebyrd36]

Well I clean mine once a month, but it is HUUUGGGGEEE.

 

[mener6896]

do you have a poop deck (droppings board) under your roosts? This helps keep the wood chips clean under the roosts and you can just scrape it off every day (or whenever you what)

 

[dkosh]

For me it depends on the weather. If it has been dry it seems the coop stays cleaner and it can go a couple of weeks. If it has been wet and rainy I will do it right when the weather breaks because I don't like having the shavings wet too long in the coop. Have fun and keep your mouth closed when you shovel.

 

[love2chicken]

cool thanks for the info. any info on the run about the same time. it is covered but gets muddy. is hay ok or should i use some thing different thanks

 

[dkosh]

Well my chickens run the farm with the sheep. I don't have a run. Once a month my husband scrapes the barn area with a loader. They do love to dig in the hay around the sheep feeders so I would think it would be an activity for them if nothing else.

 

[terrilhb]

I clean once a week. But that is just my preference.

 

[cluckin tractor]

ive got ten chooks and 4 chicks and i rarley need to clean mine just the poop is the main thing
i dont need money to clean it

if your talking about the run as in the hay i wouldnt worry as the hens will compost it
generally i pick up odds and ends of the run but mines dirt and most things get groken down or thrown over fence

litter gets a top up every now and then but when i need organic matter for the garden the chook shed gets most straw removed and replaced


really if it looks dirty then clean it or you get a desease clean it but it really depends on weather

 

[medtec113]

I use the deep litter meathod. I clean mine once a year. it is a 5x5 coop and a 5x12 run. about once every three months I add additional pine shavings and sprinkle DE throughout. I have no smell at all. no flies in the summer either. One of the best things is I get free compost.