How often are u supposed to clean coop out?

[Chickadee-23]

Im asking this cause i think im cleaning mine to much i clean mine once a week, and that includes the run to witch i had new sand to, is this too much cleaning? Thanks

 

[Ridgerunner]

Often enough to keep it from smelling. Some people clean daily which is probably excessive but to each their own. Some of us clean a lot less. There are several different factors.

I usually scrape my droppings board once every two to three weeks or when I expect visitors. Got to clean up for visitors. The last time I cleaned the bedding out of my coop it had been four years. I didn’t need to then but I wanted that stuff on my garden.

Part of it depends on your chicken density. The more chickens you shoehorn into a tiny space, the more often you have to clean. Using a droppings board can greatly reduce the need to clean the whole coop. How much and what kind of bedding you use can make a big difference. The list goes on and on.

A smelly coop or run generally means a wet coop or run. If you can keep them dry, you can greatly reduce the smell problem. Good ventilation helps too. If the poop builds up, it can get thick enough to stay wet and start stinking. Just high humidity in the air can make a difference too.

We have so many different climates, set-ups chicken densities, and management methods that there is no one right answer for each of us. It’s what works for you.

 

[Chickadee-23]

Thanks I put nest pads in my hens nest boxes then i put a layer of pine shavings they love it, now for my breeding coop i clean her nests out after the babys come out in the run, i only have one pair so shes the only hen, but for my layers i clean theres maybe once a month unless a egg breaks, i have no bad odor they get enough ventilation infact the house is in shade part of coop and the run has mostly sun with some shade so i think its good, i guess i can keep doing what im doing it be good thanks again

 

[thomasboyle]

I clean mine when it starts to smell. For my ducks, that is every Saturday. For my chickens, it is 3 times a year. I add hay to the duck area daily, and add it to the chicken nesting boxes every other day (my chickens like to kick it out of the boxes into the main coop area!) and add it to the chicken area once a month or so. I know it is clean when all I smell is hay!

 

[Chickadee-23]

Ok thanks i add sand once a week especialy after it rains i cant stand it when the run is muddy and their feet get dirty, they slso free range to