Dropping bards vs. Dropping pit

[spottedtail]

I've found boards to be much better than pits.
If you have wheelbarrow access and the boards are high enough, you can just scrape from boards into barrow.
Make the hinged roost assembly 6 to 8" higher than the boards and cleaning will not be necessary so often.
Don't forget to install a 2x4" wire mesh immediately under the roosts! You don't want them walking in their droppings.

spot

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
The poops aren't smelly unless a) they've been piling up for a while, or b) your chickens have some serious digestive issues.

I usually sprinkle a few shavings on the board to absorb any really wet poops, and I've found that (with the pits) sprinkling some lime in there helps keep the pit sweet smelling until you can get it cleaned out.

The other advantage with the board, in the higher latitudes with the really cold winters, you can use an ice-chipper to lift the frozen poop in slabs... frozen pits are harder to clean out unless you're keeping your coop above freezing. I actually prefer frozen poos...

 

[tdgill]

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain :

Quote:
The poops aren't smelly unless a) they've been piling up for a while, or b) your chickens have some serious digestive issues.

I usually sprinkle a few shavings on the board to absorb any really wet poops, and I've found that (with the pits) sprinkling some lime in there helps keep the pit sweet smelling until you can get it cleaned out.

The other advantage with the board, in the higher latitudes with the really cold winters, you can use an ice-chipper to lift the frozen poop in slabs... frozen pits are harder to clean out unless you're keeping your coop above freezing. I actually prefer frozen poos...

ahhh good point!​