Coop gems -what is the one feature of your coop you couldnt live without?

[Farmgirl1878]

@MommA2K I use natural, washed, coarse river sand that we buy by the dump truck load from a local quarry. As long as you don’t use play sand (too fine) or construction sand (made from crushed stone and too dusty), you should be fine. I like what we get because there’s a lot of variation in the sizes of the sand grains and pebbles. It’s not too dusty (because it’s washed) and it’s so easy to keep clean! Plus the girls eat it, dust bathe in it, and it doesn’t get too hot or cold.

 

[Kat2141]

I'm still a little foggy one the whole * poop board* thing. Guess I'll be doing some research today.

I was foggy on it too for a long time. Then I changed stuff up a bit and tried it. Will always have them now. (I use a snow shovel to clean them off and dump into wheelbarrow, works great.)

 

[Dandiesandy]

Poop boards.

Ok newbie here...what is a poop board?

 

[Kat2141]

Ok newbie here...what is a poop board?

If you have a large coop and your girls are outdoors most of the time, they are a great help. They are boards that are 6 or more inches under the roost to catch all of the poop so it doesn't fall all of the way to the floor. I use a thin layer of shavings on mine and nothing sticks that way, bring a wheelbarrow in and use a snow shovel to scoop the poo out. With 16' or so of roost on 2 walls, it's just a few scoops and it's done. Scrape off the ramps, then just mix up the little bit of stuff on the floor with the shavings there, and it's good to go for the most part. There is generally very little on the floor, because they are outside as soon as I open the door for them (except coming in to lay) and when they come in at night, eat a little and go right to bed. So, most of the poo inside is from the roost area and the boards make it easier to clean.

 

[DobieLover]

Ok newbie here...what is a poop board?

 

[NatJ]

Ok newbie here...what is a poop board?

A board or tray under the roosts, so the nighttime poop lands on the board instead of on the floor. Useful if you want to get all of that poop out of the coop every day, so it's always clean and odor-free.

If you're not willing to clean it every single day, or if you want all that poop mixed into the bedding on the floor so it makes a compost pile, then poop boards are probably not for you.

 

[OlympicChick]

Ok newbie here...what is a poop board?

If you have a dirt floor coop (deep litter method), then there is no need for a poop board.