How do I keep my coop clean?

[jkelly83113]

We have one window that's screened in, but yes we should have more Windows!! Thank you guys so so so much!

 

[Brigabart]

I have 4 coops, this is a pic of the largest one (and my favorite because it is very easy to clean). I use PDZ on the roosting boxes (which I clean every day with a scoop) Currently there are 19 adult chickens living in this coop so there is a lot of poop produced overnight and this is why I clean it every day because I figure that it is better to spend a little time cleaning it every morning than a long time every week.
I also use koopclean on the floor (it is a mixture of chopped hay/straw/PDZ) which I replace 3 or 4 times a year.
Roosting boxes and PDZ are very good to keep your coop clean, if you are building a coop take them into consideration.

Gorgeous coop! I may switch over my area under the roosts to PDZ. LOVE koopclean too.

 

[PingoBags]

I use sand and have a solar fan sucking air out of the coop, no smell.

 

[8MerryHens]

PDZ and poop boards were the best suggestions I gleaned from BYC when researching what i wanted/needed in a coop. I use cafeteria trays on the poop boards cause my coop is not a walk-in model. It is elevated and I can easily reach in a lift the trays down to sift and clean. Even with the high temps and humidity this summer there has been no smell.

 

[jkelly83113]

I think I am going to do some re-cooping! I am going to add another window and a fan! I am going to put something to catch their poop under their roost. Do you suggest hay/straw or pine shavings on the floor of the coop? I am going to do the sand/PDZ for the poop catchings.

 

[josher57]

Sand!

I changed from shaving to sand and I won't go back. Easy to clean and keeps them cooler in the summer down here in the south. Scoop it like kitty litter. Plus the sand helps absorb the moisture, saving your flooring.

 

[aart]

This does help so much! I keep the doors open from about 6:30 am until 9/10 pm so they are outside all day! (unless its raining and then they usually stay in the coop) I think the roof isn't very good so i think water just naturally gets in there and then makes the pine shavings just get really gross! It drives me nuts, because I feel so bad for them. I don't want to be a bad chicken mamma! haha

There's your main problem right there.
With chickens, wet = stink.

Good articles on Ventilation and Space linked in my signature.

Poop boards https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...raphic-gross-poop-pictures/1100#post_13179595

Even with a bone dry coop bedding, PDZ roost board, and lots of ventilation..... in this hot humid weather, chicken poop stinks.

 

[lazy gardener]

Leaking roof is definite problem. Lack of ventilation, an other problem. How many square feet for how many birds???

 

[melissamende]

Our coop roof leaked a bit too (it's not the best quality, we bought it online) so we covered it with a tarp and there haven't been any problems with leaking. It's been raining like crazy too. It's a quick inexpensive fix, although it doesn't look the best.

 

[bbecca]

For those who use sand, what kind of scoop do you use to get the poop out? I've Tryed a cat litter scoop but it's too small and very tedious since I have a large coop.