Coop cleaning.

[Nverst]

Hi I’m new to the backyard chickens and just have a few questions. I turned part of my shed into a coop 5x13 and my run is a 4x10 dog kennel attached to my shed. Both have wood floors and I’m just curious on what bedding to use and how often to change it. I have 6 chickens.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Welco to BYC!

There are quite a few options for bedding. Shavings, sand, straw pellets and straw are just a few that I’ve used. The articles here are worth a read ~ https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/categories/housing-feeding-your-flock.23/

 

[mowin]

Chickens love to scratch in the dirt, and need that for grit to digest their food. Will you extend the run so they can scratch around? Free range?

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

In my duck coop I have cement floor but I put good tarps down and up the wall 2 feet so it’s easy to clean if it does get poo on it
I use shavings for the ducks but not sure what is best for chickens

 

[aart]

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.
- Large flake 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 9 years.

Hi I’m new to the backyard chickens and just have a few questions. I turned part of my shed into a coop 5x13 and my run is a 4x10 dog kennel attached to my shed. Both have wood floors and I’m just curious on what bedding to use and how often to change it. I have 6 chickens.

Why does your run have a wooden floor?
More space is probably needed for the run anyway, can you extend it?
Got pics of the coop and run?

Oh, and.... Welcome to BYC! @Nverst
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Nverst]

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.
- Large flake 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 9 years.



Why does your run have a wooden floor?
More space is probably needed for the run anyway, can you extend it?
Got pics of the coop and run?

Oh, and.... Welcome to BYC! @Nverst
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 3424466

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.
- Large flake 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 9 years.



Why does your run have a wooden floor?
More space is probably needed for the run anyway, can you extend it?
Got pics of the coop and run?

Oh, and.... Welcome to BYC! @Nverst
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 3424466

Thanks for the comment! My shed was built on a downhill slope and in order to have a level run attached to the shed, I am having to construct a platform which raises it off the ground. I plan on possibly extending the run in the future. I’ve considered filling the run with sand but I wanted some other opinions. Oh and I am in Northern Kentucky, I updated my account.

 

[aart]

My shed was built on a downhill slope and in order to have a level run attached to the shed, I am having to construct a platform which raises it off the ground.

How steep is the slope?
Post some pics?

 

[mowin]

Thanks for the comment! My shed was built on a downhill slope and in order to have a level run attached to the shed, I am having to construct a platform which raises it off the ground. I plan on possibly extending the run in the future. I’ve considered filling the run with sand but I wanted some other opinions. Oh and I am in Northern Kentucky, I updated my account.

Not having seen your slope, I'd suggest setting posts in the ground. Taller posts on the downhill side, shorter up top. Make them tall enough to get the height needed. Lot less lumber then building a raised platform under the entire run.

 

[jreardon1918]

Unless the run slope is very sever, you could dig the high side down into the slope and attach the run to the shed. That would allow the chickens to have real ground to scratch. It could also be cheaper as you would not need a floor. As said above, pictures will help.