Cleaning the poop, uh, I mean coop!

[justcelia]

I tried hay and shavings first. I got rid of the hay.
Shavings are much easier to clean and the hay just seemed to get in the way.

Celia
2 Braham hens

 

[moonlyghtegirl]

Quote:
Search "deep litter method"

 

[fluffychicksmomma]

Um, Resolution, I don't have a "cycle of infection and disease", I am just being careful so as not to get any. As for hearing a couple of sneezes, I got all worried and posted on here right away. Was assured by many that the occasional sneeze is not unusual and not to be worried about it unless it continued or got worse. All of the chickens look fine and eat and drink well. No one appears to be sick in the least. : )

 

[Resolution]

Quote:
Each and every one us is more than capable of contributing towards the perpetuation of disease and infection. It's unfortunately the nature of animal husbandry. Being proactive- the husbander that is proactive avoids it. I hope you visited the link I provided for some ideas about preventing the birds from coming into contact with fecal material at all; with feeding protocol that both provides optimal nutrition- diets that prevent against ammonia rich droppings to begin with; and with preventative measures of fecal collection beneath perches.

Just participated in a three day symposium on avian pathology. Data from every dead sparrow, starling, pigeon, pet budgie and domestic fowl sent in to state and university labs is dissected. We really are in a race between education and catastrophe. Too many people are missing the signs of sick birds until they end up using antibiotics badly and then finally sending the bird into the vet where it dies- necropsy later- information is gleaned- data- we are creating antibiotic resistant strains of mycoplasma of psueodomonas-etc. All of this can be avoided if people pay attention as you and several other writers here have- and get proactive about the collection of droppings- next step is better litter- and more optimal diets....

Just can't afford to be cavalier- complacent- especially folks keeping birds in the suburbs.

 

[wildeflowers]

I would not use shavings on bare ground. That will just rot and turn into a big mess fast since it's absorbent. Sand is the way to go in the run area if you can't deal with the mud. It drains, dries fast and is easily cleaned with a fine rake.

Two hens do not produce a ton of poop (at least compared with a dozen! LOL) so it should be fairly easy for you to keep things extremely clean. I know it was for me when I only had the two to start.

 

[Jferlisi]

Ya dont worry about the sneezing i have 19 chickens and i hear sneezing from time to time. They are all healthy i check regularly at least once a week so your fine on that. As for cleaning i clean mine out really good about every two months. Mine has a wood bottom but its pan like so i have dirt in the bottom so when its raining out they can still dust bath and all. I rake out the coop every morning. But i only need to do the area where they roost. I am thinking about putting a board under it. Used to have bricks there and they really helped. I know silkies cant get up hi so ya i would suggest also the outdoor carpet idea under a small roost. Super easy to clean that way. Best of luck with getting your daughter to clean it.

 

[fluffychicksmomma]

Thanks everyone, got some great ideas! : )

 

[3chimama]

I deep clean my coop in the spring and in the fall.

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
I used to do that until I noticed the shaving/poop mix that I took out in the spring wasn't as decomposed as the stuff I was taking out in the fall. It occurred to me that because I was using fresh shavings in the fall plus the cool winter was preventing the natural breakdown of the manure. Since this composting generates heat, my birds and coop wasn't going to be as warm as it could have been. Since then--about 15 years or so ago--I've just cleaned down to the floor in the spring.