how aften do you clean your coop

[LizzyJo]

Quote:
What is PDZ? I've asked before, but misspelled the three-letter word!

 

[ladyj]

sweet pdz is like stall dry, it helps keep the smell down and is easier to find than food grade DE

 

[LizzyJo]

Does it kill bugs like DE?

 

[dhelin]

HI...new to BYC posting, but have lurked here for a month or so....14 assorted pullets in my "pampered princess pavilion" (ie coop) in DRY Montana...

the PDZ is for absorbing wetness in horse stalls, no bug killing potential; easy to find here (food grade DE was impossible)...

I have fourteen 16 week old gals (started laying 10 days ago!) and the cleanup is easy so far. Winter will bring more time indoors, so I know that will make it more work...they poo a lot under their roosts, so every weekend I shovel that area through a trap door in the floor and into a pan that goes into the "compost in progress"--layered with yard/garden clippings.
The rest of their 8x8 ft. coop is raked and any wet areas disposed of, with PDZ sprinkled on those areas and under the roosts.
Then partially soiled but dry shavings (pine ) from the coop go under the roosts for the week (2-3 inches worth) and I add fresh to the areas that are thin.
Trying to work up to a modified "deep litter" method for winter, but it's a raised coop with linoleum floor, so we'll see if it builds up for the winter and stays tolerable (odor etc).
Ventilation and dryness haven't been an issue, but there will need to be more winterizing before fall--sealing door frames etc, so we'll see.
The run seems to be taking a beating, so we added play sand this week, and wll stock up on more as mud season approaches.

I love this forum...so much info, debate, knowledge...I've found that looking at regional (think climate/moisture) differences in members' recommendations is important to determining which advice to follow closely

Thanks,

 

[LizzyJo]

Your first post and in response to my PDZ question! Thank you for your answer and welcome out into the light (no more lurking in the dark perimeter).

We're warned that this site is addicting as you've already found out.

 

[Pickled Egg]

I do a deep littler method and don't clean out anything.

I generously sprinkle diatomaceous earth (de) on top of the litter about once a week and use a rake to mix it through. The de dries out the poop and prevents odours. It also kills any mites and other pests. It is not harmful to the birds at all. I then add new material on top of the old littler and de. I use pine shavings, straw, or dried grass clippings.

I've have been using this method for about two months now and it's working great. The coop smells nice and the chickens are healthy. I will clean out the whole coop in the spring (a big job no doubt) and start fresh.

This method is suppose to be good for colder climates because it helps insulate the coop.

 

[trilyn]

Quote:
It is not PDS it is Sweet PDZ, it is a horse stall deodorizer that you can use in the coop to keep it smelling "sweet"! lol You can also buy another version called Stall Dry and they're both usually available at your local tack, feed store or TSC.

ETA-whoops sorry, I didn't read all the posts and didn't realize someone else had already answered!! *ducks* lol

 

[fowler_chick]

lol..my husband still complains that the chickens are better taken care of then he is.....guess he'll have to move out to the coop to get the same attention!!!!, i guess my ocd stems from difrent barn/ stables that i've been to over my life where i have boarded my horse at one time or another who also kept chickens and not very impressed with there keeping. Now that i have my own farm i'm ocd about every thing.....horses are too dusty...i'm out there for hours brushing them (x3) .....uno the bucket calf is muddy (from what i don't know) he get's hosed off......and well the pig's drive me nuts.....but that's there nature......
any ways i'll get theropy for my cleaning the coop every week disorder soon......i've also told my manure/coop poop guy to come by every second week end now.

 

[nwgirl]

I currently have 4 pullets in a 3 x 3 hutch while the large coop is being built. It gets cleaned every 2 weeks just by adding fresh new pine shavings and DE. The run gets raked out every week if needed, and put into the compost. The waterers get cleaned once a week or more if necessary. Its been pretty easy really and I imagine it'll be even easier once they move into the large coop as I plan on experimenting with the deep litter method this winter. So far I haven't had any problems with flies inside the coop and have not experienced any chicken smells at all.

It sure is funny that the girls go running for the coop after its cleaned as if they are inspecting my work. So far they seem to be very happy, but the chicken faerie still hasn't left any money under my pillow!

 

[rebbetzin]

Quote:
My hens do the same thing when I add new straw. They go in and rearrange it all, I haven't been looking for money under my pillow! I will have to start!!