We've had our coop in use since the end of April this year, with four pullets in residence. Last week, we introduced eight eight-week old chicks to the mix, in their own enclosed brooding box, but still in the main coop area, using the floor. Before adding the chicks, my husband added a bag and a half of pine shavings to the existing bedding, to freshen up the coop.
I had read in a chicken book (Story's Raising Chickens) that coops only need cleaning once a year, and doing so more than that would take away the bugs that had developed to help keep the coop clean - or something along those lines. It was suggested to continue adding clean shavings until winter, building up the coop floor to about 10 inches, which would then ferment over the winter, helping to keep the coop warm, and giving some great compost come spring clean up time.
Hubby went in the coop today to water and feed everyone, and noticed that the chicks area of the coop is already in need of freshening/changing. The shavings are wet and clumpy and he feels it's not a good environment for them.
How often should we be adding/changing the bedding? We basically went about two months without adding more to the coop, but this has only been a week.
I had read in a chicken book (Story's Raising Chickens) that coops only need cleaning once a year, and doing so more than that would take away the bugs that had developed to help keep the coop clean - or something along those lines. It was suggested to continue adding clean shavings until winter, building up the coop floor to about 10 inches, which would then ferment over the winter, helping to keep the coop warm, and giving some great compost come spring clean up time.
Hubby went in the coop today to water and feed everyone, and noticed that the chicks area of the coop is already in need of freshening/changing. The shavings are wet and clumpy and he feels it's not a good environment for them.
How often should we be adding/changing the bedding? We basically went about two months without adding more to the coop, but this has only been a week.