Coop Cleaning... How Often??

[woodmort]

Quote:
Most definitely do--apparently you haven't heard about the problems with disease and allergies brought on by bring kids up in a sterile environment. Assuming you're not running an egg factory or battery system, hyper-cleaning is probably not necessary. I use a deep layer of pine shavings with no poop boards and clean once a year. BTW, I used to do it more often--twice a year--but found it wasn't making things any neater, just created more work for myself. My chickens don't seem to mind and, best of all, my DW, who has an ultra-sensitive olfactory ability, doesn't either.

 

[shell25]

Quote:
Thanks im thinking of putting concrete under my new coop/run for those reasons and also more easier for me to clean, yes my grass starting to look not like grass also.

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
Other than taking the electric blower and wearing a dust mask to blow out the dust through the windows/doors a couple of times per year and dumping (into my compost bins) the black plastic poop catcher partly filled with wood shavings that occasionally get stirred and sprinkled with food-grade diatomaceous earth, I only remove the floor's wood shavings w/diatomaceous earth to the compost bins once or twice a year. If I throw in a couple of hands full of bird seed with black oil seeds, corn, and various other seeds, the chickens keep the floor shavings stirred up.
If I had to do more than that, I'd get rid of my chickens.
BTW, my coops have no smell whatsoever... as evidenced by the fact that my wife has not killed me (yet).

ETA See MY BYC Page for photos.

 

[cjdmashley]

Quote:
Most definitely do--apparently you haven't heard about the problems with disease and allergies brought on by bring kids up in a sterile environment. Assuming you're not running an egg factory or battery system, hyper-cleaning is probably not necessary. I use a deep layer of pine shavings with no poop boards and clean once a year. BTW, I used to do it more often--twice a year--but found it wasn't making things any neater, just created more work for myself. My chickens don't seem to mind and, best of all, my DW, who has an ultra-sensitive olfactory ability, doesn't either.

x2

 

[beckyschicks]

I have a rubber floor in my coop. I sprinkle shavings just to cover it in the summer. Clean it out every 2 months, more if it gets wet. I have their water up on a concert slab I put in there. That helped. I do the deep litter method in the winter. My coop takes 10 mins to clean out. I take a grain shovel and throw it in a wheelbarrel, then on to the manure pile. Takes me longer to clean horse stalls. My chickens free range in the summer which helps. I'm pretty sensitive to smell and the only time it stinks is when it's wet and hot. Two sides of my coop are windows so when the suns out it's warm in there. As long as it's dry it's fine.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
Most definitely do--apparently you haven't heard about the problems with disease and allergies brought on by bring kids up in a sterile environment. Assuming you're not running an egg factory or battery system, hyper-cleaning is probably not necessary. I use a deep layer of pine shavings with no poop boards and clean once a year. BTW, I used to do it more often--twice a year--but found it wasn't making things any neater, just created more work for myself. My chickens don't seem to mind and, best of all, my DW, who has an ultra-sensitive olfactory ability, doesn't either.

+1 except the part about DW

 

[gallinamama]

Quote:
Most definitely do--apparently you haven't heard about the problems with disease and allergies brought on by bring kids up in a sterile environment. Assuming you're not running an egg factory or battery system, hyper-cleaning is probably not necessary. I use a deep layer of pine shavings with no poop boards and clean once a year. BTW, I used to do it more often--twice a year--but found it wasn't making things any neater, just created more work for myself. My chickens don't seem to mind and, best of all, my DW, who has an ultra-sensitive olfactory ability, doesn't either.

I know I was over doing it... but for some reason I felt I had to??? I remember going to Italy.... a lady there had the cleanest animals I have ever seen...she explained to me that clean animals means clean meat. That always stuck for some reason... I think I have this idea in my head about a perfect little coop with all the comforts of home...

I will come to my senses pretty soon...

Give me some time...I still want to redo the coop... with insulation and lights and a heater... everyone is thinking I am nuts... Maybe so...

wait till winter time.. my tune will change quickly...

I loved my chickens. but I had to send three of the five roosters to freezer camp.... strangely enough.. I didn't feel too bad... they were driving my girls crazy... now only to find out I have two more to send to freezer camp... I tried giving them away to the neighbors... but they just bought 24 more chickens...

Now after 9 chickens I will only have 4... and I find out my famliy even my husband is grossed out about the eggs and the meat Seems everything I try to do... just fails...

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
I agree that clean animals mean clean meat/eggs and, certainly, less disease but there is a difference between clean and sterile. I also know it is tough to fight someone's cleaning obsession but try to enjoy your chickens as chickens not little people.

BTW, if you're married with 4 children and 4 grandchildren you certainly haven't failed. Also, if your husband is grossed out by the eggs, then you eat them and let him have store-bought.

 

[crazyhen]

I have a total of about 24 hens and roos. They have poop boards that I clean off every other day, adding a layer of chips. I don't like odor at all. The floor is covered with a good layer of wood chips as well. If it gets to looking bad or smelly I rake it out and put more. I know.... I probably do to much but I like the cleanner look and with a lot of hens it can get messy quick. I clean out the nest too. I am NPIP certified and have always checked out as a clean flock. No salmonella etc. I am also considered a centinal flock. I treasure my hens esp and do not want to lose any to disease unnecessarily.
When I first got hens, I got home and they were all sick!!! I had to cull them all.

Now I make sure where I get my chicks and watch them carefully before adding anything. I had rather hatch eggs under my broodies. Gloria Jean


Moderator why are my smiles not working?????

 

[Jeeper1540]

I use pine shavings and clean the coop when I think "i should clean this" lol. i dont have any set schedule