Cleaning the pen

[sammy]

I have a large pen around my small coop, of course the birds poop quite a bit.

I clean out the coop everyday and pick up the larger poops in the pen. Is that necessary or will the rain take care of the pen area?

Just wondering.

TY !

 

[hatchcrazzzy]

cleaning up is better for your chickens

 

[masschix]

Wow! Your chickens must love you! You really clean every day? I've been using the deep litter method and only have to clean the coop every 3 weeks, and rake out the run once a week.

 

[redoak]

Yesterday the skys really opened up and today there were no signs of chicken poop in the run. I've also been giving the girls lots of grass clippings in the run, especially heavier pooped areas.

 

[DDRanch]

I clean my coops every day too. I use shavings on the bottom, straw on top and using a pitch fork scoop and then remove the droppings. The dropping will stick to a little bit of the hay, so really I am just removing some top straw. It's pretty easy and doesn't take much time. The coop smells better and my birds stay cleaner. About every 5-6 weeks, I throw everything out and start with fresh shavings and straw.

I also tidy up the outdoor pen daily. Again, the birds stay cleaner which I have to believe is healthier for them, it smells nicer and keeps flies in check. And, when I am working with them, I am stepping in less poop. Now that's a real bonus.

Anne

 

[NYREDS]

Wow, I'm impressed. I TRY to clean my pens every year!!!!

 

[sammy]

Thanks all! I will continue picking up the outside pen then as well as the coop, ok on some days I just may hit the BIG spots outside

What about in the winter? Do you mainly just do the coop?
(dont they stay in it most of the day?)

Thanks!

Will post my bird pics soon

 

[Grass]

i been letting my girls free range ...hopfully i'll get grass someday

 

[BayCityBabe]

I rake out the coop, every 3 or 4 days. I hose down the run, every 3 or 4 days, unless there's rain... we've been blessed with rain this summer.

 

[masschix]

This will be my first winter with the chickens, but after talking to some of the local farmers, they let their chickens out in the winter. I would guess that if it were brutally cold, they wouldn't. But they shovel all the snow out daily. I'm gonna try it and see how they handle it. I also plan to put panels up on three sides of the coop to keep out most of the snow. Good Luck!