How do you clean your run?

[ncCHICKS]

I have a 4x4x2 coop on top of a 4x4x3 run. It gives space for my girls (3 8 week olds) and they get lots of free range time.

I always take a rake (there is a door on side of run) and rake out any bedding, food, poo that ends up in there. Then I take the hoe and make sure it's all up. I then spread some grass seed around, it makes good food and also the few that make it helps keep grass. After that, I make sure there are no rodent holes, ant hills. If there are ant hills I can put up the chicks, put down some grits and it kills them in a day or so.

I know it sounds like a lot, but I'm only 5'1" so it's not that hard. The ladder to coop folds up and stays up, so it's not in the way. I think it's pretty easy, but maybe it's just because I used to have to follow 3 chicks around the yard all day...

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

First chicken coop was DH's he started the chickens That run is only 4 1/2 feet high He cleans that as I will not bend over to do it. This last coop I had my son put in a 6 1/2 foot high run. I just go in with a rake and pile it all up then shovel it into a bucket to go on the compost pile Takes no time at all. I can go in and spend time with my chickens I put a chair in there and watch chicken TV

 

[ncCHICKS]

I PLAN to build a little garden around my coop, with stepping stones, mulch and flowers. Get a small patio chair and chill with my babies.

 

[ThePamperedPullet]

Our 4 large coups you can walk in and rake up and that goes to the compost pile. The large outside area we rake nearly every day. They get big piles of leaves to scratch around in and so we rake it all up into long rows for the next day and after the outside chickdren get put to bed we water it all really well. Keeps the poo all broke down that way and creates great mulch for the flower beds. And when my body feels up to it, I just shovel out what I need for the beds and start the process over.

 

[Dash Riprock]

I mow it... They wander around in our fenced backyard. Whatever I can't chop our dawg, Cash disposes of. Yeah, as you guessed, no kissy face with Cash. YUCK!

Dash

 

[SterlingAcres]

My run is about 8 foot high. I just walk in and rake it.

 

[ncCHICKS]

You all make my coop feel sad

BUT it has only cost $40 so far and is going to be John Deere themed by next weekend

Keep your eyes peeled about next Monday for it!

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

It doesn't have to be pretty just predator proof. My DH called our first chicken coop the chcken getto. he made it with all used lumber. It worked very well for two years then a opossum found a way to get inside . She killed all but three of our chickens. the next coop was like fort knox.And its a good thing because someting tried to dig under the doors. It couldn't get far as it has a very thick floor. Like DH says jyou learn as you go.

 

[tvtaber]

Quote:
I can't wait to see your post about how your chickens have eaten all your flowers, dug holes in the garden, and scattered mulch all over creation! See you then!

(Just kidding, but really they eat EVERYTHING and digging in mulch is their favorite past time.)

 

[Frizzledhen]

I also mow my run. They do have a couple of spots that they have turned into dust baths and I just leave them alone so they don't dig up a couple more.