How often do I clean my coop and what should I lay down?

[Queenofchicks]

Newbie here, we got our coop and we are expanding it currently right now it is 4x9 and in the end it’ll 4x13 ft. My question is, how often with 5 chickens should I clean my coop? And lastly, right now it’s in the ground/grass should I lay anything down on the ground for poop and stuff? I attached pictures for everyone’s input but please my coop is NOT finished yet lol So any other helpful tips and tricks are appreciated!

 

[592667]

Hi! Congrats on your coop

Proper hygiene is essential for keeping chickens healthy. If there is too much poo and bacteria build up, their feet will get infected and they could even ingest the bacteria! You do not want to treat some of that stuff :/
Also, ammonia will build up from poo, which will harm the chickens' respiratory system...Not fun either!

I clean my henhouse and run everyday, when I let my hens out. If there is a lot of poo around lunchtime or near the end of the day, I will clean the run again.

I let my hens free range in my fenced backyard, so it really helps cut down poo cleaning, multiple times a day. So, I only have to clean my henhouse and run once in the morning.

However, if you are keeping your flock in the run almost all day, you will need to clean the run and henhouse of any poo, so they don't accidentally eat the poo or inhale lots of ammonia.

Hope this helps!

 

[KarynVA]

I tidy our coop daily (3 hens, small coop) and do a more thorough cleaning every couple of weeks. The more thorough cleaning is when I refresh the bedding (we use pine shavings), and remove poop still remaining from the daily cleaning etc. You will quickly get a feel for what works in your situation.

I've had 3 chickens for nearly a year now and I find the maintenance requirements are less than I was worried about before I actually had them. It's very straightforward and easy to learn as you go.

Hm, I have never cleaned out our run. I just add more organic material on top and they stir it all up. My chickens are healthy.

 

[Queenofchicks]

Hi! Congrats on your coop

Proper hygiene is essential for keeping chickens healthy. If there is too much poo and bacteria build up, their feet will get infected and they could even ingest the bacteria! You do not want to treat some of that stuff :/
Also, ammonia will build up from poo, which will harm the chickens' respiratory system...Not fun either!

I clean my henhouse and run everyday, when I let my hens out. If there is a lot of poo around lunchtime or near the end of the day, I will clean the run again.

I let my hens free range in my fenced backyard, so it really helps cut down poo cleaning, multiple times a day. So, I only have to clean my henhouse and run once in the morning.

However, if you are keeping your flock in the run almost all day, you will need to clean the run and henhouse of any poo, so they don't accidentally eat the poo or inhale lots of ammonia.

Hope this helps!

Okay so again still new, is the coop part where the bedding and nesting boxes go? And the run is obviously where they run around and such? The reason I ask is because my chickens, and if the above questions are yes, I don’t see them using the coop unless I put them in there at night. That’s why I threw down some shavings on the run because the keep cuddling and going to sleep down there. So than I was worried about them sleeping in basically their poop ya know?

 

[KarynVA]

They should sleep on a roost inside the coop. You may need to train them to do that. You don't want them to get in the habit of sleeping in the run at night.

 

[Queenofchicks]

I tidy our coop daily (3 hens, small coop) and do a more thorough cleaning every couple of weeks. The more thorough cleaning is when I refresh the bedding (we use pine shavings), and remove poop still remaining from the daily cleaning etc. You will quickly get a feel for what works in your situation.

I've had 3 chickens for nearly a year now and I find the maintenance requirements are less than I was worried about before I actually had them. It's very straightforward and easy to learn as you go.

Hm, I have never cleaned out our run. I just add more organic material on top and they stir it all up. My chickens are healthy.

Perfect I think I can definitely manage daily however my chickens don’t seem to be using their coop all that much yet. How can I change this behavior? It seems like they just keep on wanting to stay in their run day and night. I do want my chickens to have freedom throughout the day, but and maybe this is a dumb question, I’m worried about them hopping the fence and I’m just curious about how you manage the free roaming situation.

 

[Queenofchicks]

They should sleep on a roost inside the coop. You may need to train them to do that. You don't want them to get in the habit of sleeping in the run at night.

Okay that’s what I thought! i will definitely work on that than thank you so much!

 

[KarynVA]

Just lock them inside the coop from dusk 'til dawn or whenever for a few nights and they will figure it out. As for the run, ours started as grass but they quickly tear that up and eat it etc. and so I add stuff from the yard like dry leaves, wood chips, pine needles, whatever is dry and clean. I just shovel that stuff into the run every now and then and they have a ball spreading it around and kicking it etc.

"is the coop part where the bedding and nesting boxes go?" Yes.

 

[Queenofchicks]

Just lock them inside the coop from dusk 'til dawn or whenever for a few nights and they will figure it out. As for the run, ours started as grass but they quickly tear that up and eat it etc. and so I add stuff from the yard like dry leaves, wood chips, pine needles, whatever is dry and clean. I just shovel that stuff into the run every now and then and they have a ball spreading it around and kicking it etc.

"is the coop part where the bedding and nesting boxes go?" Yes.

Okay thank you so much! That helps a lot!

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I have poop boards under my roosts so I scoop those out daily and rake my run out weekly. I really don't have poo in the coop cuz they aren't in there except to lay and sleep. There are a lot of different ways to manage your coop and run. @3KillerBs wrote a great article on the various options. I don't like poo to build up so I opt to clean more than some, but it will totally be up to you and your personal preferences