How do you clean your coop?

[FortCluck]

We use a snow shovel to scoop everything out into a wheelbarrow. We then hose everything off then let it dry. We add new straw or pine shavings then it's good to go.

 

[blackandtan]

I also use deep bedding and change twice a year. Cleaning day is sunny and warm, and before new bedding goes in the floor is dusted with mite dust and I paint the underside of roost bars with used oil for bug control, and I’ve never had mites. Coop floor is raised, I use mainly pine shavings but in the “bedroom”/nest area in the back put down a big bag of flax bedding first because it is super absorbent.
Wet spots under roosts get removed as required, more often in the winter than summer, and I top it with straw or hay, they play with it especially in the wintertime.
My waterer hangs over a big rubber horse feed bowl which really helps contain the drips and slobber and keep the rest of the bedding dry, I just dump it when it’s full.
I clean roosts with a car window scraper, (that’s a tool for removing frost for you folks who live in warmer parts of the world!)
The rest is scooped out with a snow shovel, (another tool required for Canadian life). Although, in my infinite wisdom, I did NOT take into account cleaning when I built my coop and managed to make the door 1 frigging inch too narrow to fit said shovel, so scooping out the coop means half an hour of slamming it into the doorframe of the coop, and is a major reason for my current rebuild.
Used material goes out to the vineyard, (if you saw my vineyard you’d laugh at the fact I call it that), or out to my rocky pasture to build soil, add nutrients and mulch grass seed.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I spot clean under the roosts daily with a dog poop scooper. I clean out twice a year, a shrub rake and a broom get the coop cleared out in 10 minutes or less. For bedding use wood chips, the same type as in my run, so I simply rake the used litter out the door and into the run and the chickens take care of distributing it. It's about a simple as I could possibly make it.

 

[2 many chickens]

Scrap it with a snow shovel then add fresh pine shavings. Nothing too extreme and nothing fancy.

 

[CatWhisperer]

I use poop boards with PDZ under the roosts. Coop and covered run get deep litter with pine shavings, grass clippings and leaves. Clean everything out thoroughly and add to compost heap twice a year. Lovely compost ready for garden in spring and fall. Chicks spend their day free ranging out in good size fenced chicken yard so I don’t have a horrible buildup of waste in coops and runs.

 

[aart]

I have multiple coops, I think 6... much more needed in the future, so I was wondering how everyone cleans their coops and some simple ways to do it..?

6 coops?!?!
Why.... and how big, in feet by feet, are they?
Dimensions and pics would help.
I would not want to clean 6 coops.

I use a paint scraper i think it's called to the the poop off the top and a hoe to get the hay out, there is this one tool also, I don't know what it's called but I can try and get a picture of it but it is basically a short version of a rake and it looks like teeth, it is short to.

Would like to see pics of your tools too. I use a cut down hoe(~18") to assist with sifting poop boards and to scrape roosts, perches, and ramps.

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.

-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.

-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.

- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 5 years.

 

[Duck_life]

6 coops?!?!
Why.... and how big, in feet by feet, are they?
Dimensions and pics would help.
I would not want to clean 6 coops.


Would like to see pics of your tools too. I use a cut down hoe(~18") to assist with sifting poop boards and to scrape roosts, perches, and ramps.
View attachment 1930273



-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.

-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.

-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.

- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 5 years.

No idea how big, Got them from someone who kept a fox in them, My dad built a big coop for my newest chickens, I only have 2 ducks so they stay in the coop with dirt on the ground and my silkies and reds stay in a run with a coop in it, all the others are free range, I don't free range my reds or silkies because of bullying. They do get grass thrown in there coop a lot though, when they are as big as the other chickens they could free range, Another coop is just a dog coop under our "chick" coop, it's for emergencies and were planning to build it in under it, The "chick" coop is for new comers, and the main coop is the newest like I mentioned, for my other chickens which I think there is 11 in that one, that is our biggest coop. I love your idea of cleaning, I had to change all my coops once every 2 weeks, or it would get moldy.

 

[aart]

No idea how big

Doesn't everyone have a tape measure?
...and pics are always good!

I had to change all my coops once every 2 weeks, or it would get moldy.

Moldy doesn't sound good, sounds like you need a better coop solution before winter hits.

 

[Duck_life]

Doesn't everyone have a tape measure?
...and pics are always good!

Moldy doesn't sound good, sounds like you need a better coop solution before winter hits.

Yes, since PA is FREEZING most of my animals will be indoors and my chickens will probably not come out in the winter! Yes we have a tape measure but I am not a fan of handy work, I have always hated building . My dad helped me though (and by help I mean he did 98% of the work) I'm sure he knows how big it is so I can just ask him.