How do I avoid Frozen poop piles

[Feath3rDust3r]

Yes.. it can become problematic.

I have found that you either have to clean it every single day... or have a smaller flock.

Or... on the poop trays, I now line them with feed sacks. Slide the feed sack out (even after a week or two of use), the frozen poop cracks off, slide the feed sack back into place.

I really like the idea of sacks! Thanks!

 

[katarobb]

I have a small coop with only four hens. They only go inside at night to roost or briefly during the day to lay. The little hen house has a drawer under the roost that I can pull out and clean. I went out just now and the poop is frozen solid in piles that are higher than the edge of the drawer - so I can't pull it out. (This is our first week with freezing temps). I'm afraid that I'm going to break the bottom of the drawer.

Might be gross but I was wondering if I should pour a bit of hot water in the drawer to loosen everything up. Would it be a big mistake? Instantly creating an even bigger ice block?? Any other ideas? I can't let it go until it thaws naturally...

 

[aart]

Might be gross but I was wondering if I should pour a bit of hot water in the drawer to loosen everything up. Would it be a big mistake?

Yes.
Can you get inside the coop?

 

[katarobb]

Yes.
Can you get inside the coop?

I can't walk in, but there is a small door that I can reach inside.

 

[aart]

I can't walk in, but there is a small door that I can reach inside.

That's probably what you're going to have to do.
Those slide outs rarely work well, even when they don't have fecal stalagmites on them.

 

[katarobb]

That's probably what you're going to have to do.
Those slide outs rarely work well, even when they don't have fecal stalagmites on them.

Yes. I am learning a lot the hard way. This forum has been so helpful for a new chicken owner. The real problem is that the floor of the thing is thin and somewhat flimsy. I'm afraid that if I really chip away at the issue, I'll put a hole in the floor.

 

[Ruby Rogue]

I had to pour hot water on my coop floor today, because when it was built I made the door open inwards, which seemed to be a good idea at the time... anyways, door opened about 8 inches and would budge no further... poured hot water through the opening, spent the next 20 minutes in -25c scraping and shoveling shavings into water and out the door to get it out before it froze. I too would like to know how to avoid this, or a better way to deal with it if it happens again.

 

[Sally PB]

Am I the only one who thinks frozen poop is much easier to manage? No smearing, no smashing. And when I inevitably step on it, it's still solid and doesn't stick to the bottom of my shoe.

There has to be ONE thing that's easier in the cold...

 

[21hens-incharge]

I had to pour hot water on my coop floor today, because when it was built I made the door open inwards, which seemed to be a good idea at the time... anyways, door opened about 8 inches and would budge no further... poured hot water through the opening, spent the next 20 minutes in -25c scraping and shoveling shavings into water and out the door to get it out before it froze. I too would like to know how to avoid this, or a better way to deal with it if it happens again.

Redo your door so it opens outward. There are a lot of reasons to open outward.
A sick hen getting shoved roughly by the door is one of them.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I have a small coop with only four hens. They only go inside at night to roost or briefly during the day to lay. The little hen house has a drawer under the roost that I can pull out and clean. I went out just now and the poop is frozen solid in piles that are higher than the edge of the drawer - so I can't pull it out. (This is our first week with freezing temps). I'm afraid that I'm going to break the bottom of the drawer.

Might be gross but I was wondering if I should pour a bit of hot water in the drawer to loosen everything up. Would it be a big mistake? Instantly creating an even bigger ice block?? Any other ideas? I can't let it go until it thaws naturally...

Did you see Alaskans post to line the tray with old feed bags? It would make the poop stick to something you can easily remove through said tiny door.