Coop Upgrade - Suggestions Welcome

[Offshoreorca]

Hi All!

Chicken math has struck again this year, and the number of birds that I want to keep has outgrown the smaller original coop we built several years ago (which can house about 12 birds comfortably). So, I've ordered in a 8x16 well built baby barn from a local place. It will be a task finishing the inside for what I want and making a run before winter. I'm figuring a portion of the barn will be the coop (about half), with a built in broody cage/brooder area and lots of storage for related supplies and feed! Has anyone else done this? Any suggestions for how to make maintenance easier? Many folks have suggested using linoleum on the floor of the coop (and a foot or so up the walls) to make washing it out easier. We have a fairly good system going on with our old coop, but I know I can make it more efficient yet!

 

[chickenlittle21]

You could use sand as the bedding and use a kitty litter scoop to clean it.

 

[aart]

We have a fairly good system going on with our old coop, but I know I can make it more efficient yet!

What do you do now?

Many folks have suggested using linoleum on the floor of the coop (and a foot or so up the walls) to make washing it out easier.

I have vinyl on my coop floor, never 'wash' it out....no liquids are used for cleaning here.

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.
-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 7 years.

 

[igorsMistress]

I'm curious what you do now. I like deep litter.

 

[Alaskan]

I really like my poop trays

 

[reddogmaster2]

Deep Litter Compost is my vote!

 

[Offshoreorca]

What do you do now?

I'm using pine shavings and changing them as necessary - not needed often in the summer, but a lot more during the wet, muddy and cold months (as during snow season, the chickens don't like to leave to coop much).