how do you clean the coop?

Well, I have two coops. My cleaning schedule differs with each coop.

One coop is small, and only houses 4 large fowl layer chickens. They have access to a run, and also spend lots of time free ranging within a fenced area during the day. I usually have a layer of 1-2 inches of pine shavings in that coop, and clean it out completely once a week.

I also have another, larger coop that houses about 20 bantam chickens. Some of the birds have access to an outdoor run, and some do not. With that coop, I keep a layer of at least 4-6 inches of shavings on the floor at all times. I only clean out that coop 1-2 times a year, though I do add more shavings to freshen things up several times each year.

With both coops, there is little smell, and I haven't had any serious mite/lice problems.

 

I do mine once a week. Mine isn't very large and they have a run below and free range in a fenced area most of the day. I remove the wood bottom to just the wire and hose it out. Once dried I use a refresh spray I made up to help with the smell and flies. Then I put some shavings in there, although they seem to kick most of them out by the end of the week.

 

I use sand and I scoop it out every other day. The fenced in run i clean every Sunday.

 

I have a tin floor that I squeegee then sweep once a week

 

I have two coops, one with a cement floor and the other with a plywood floor, I use pine shavings in both, about two inches or a little deeper. They are 12 x 20 feet and 10 x 14 feet in size, the larger coop with the cement floor has 21 birds, my just started laying flock in it. The other has 59 little Banty birds, seven weeks old now. I have been changing the shavings about every month or so. I like clean, dry coops without smell. I do a quick morning pickup in the hens coop and nothing for my Bantys, they are still too small to make much of a mess. I do use a fair amount of scratch, to employ the birds to keep the shavings turned for me. A couple of times a year I run an air hose out to the coops and also do a blow out with air, to get the dust off the walls and floors. When I can see the cobwebs in a coop, a good blow out is soon to follow.

Best to you and your birds,

RJ

 

Hello. I was wondering if you had any advice on how to persuade my dad to let me build a chicken coop. I currently have my flock of 8 in an old railroad car on our property, and as it is growing mold and full of holes, I am trying to persuade my dad to let me/ help me to build another coop. Any suggestions?

 

Quote: What are your dad's objections?

 

I clean my coop and run twice a month, both the coop and run is sand and clay flooring so I just scrape the roosts and nest boxes then do a light rake up of the floor and add the pile to my compost. A railroad car makes a amazing coop for chickens, if it is getting moldy and has holes I would just make a temporary coop and referbish the railroad car it wouldnt take to much time or money to do so. Just clean it out put some fresh plywood on the walls, roof and floor throw on some water proofing or paint and set it back up, easy peesey.

 

I agree with Papas Chickens that a railroad car would make an awesome coop. If it can be refurbished you will get a lot more bang for the buck. I just spent about $200 (probably more) on a 5x8 ark for my 4 chickens. My next door neighbors probably spent more than twice that on a coop for their 7. Neither of us has nearly as much room as a railroad car.

My guess is that the holes and mold are due to water leaks. Your first step is probably to seal the roof.

Good luck!