How often do I need to clean my coop?

[ChickForLife]

Also, how much ventilation do I need for this to work? Sorry so many questions.

 

[3KillerBs]

clean it all if it gets really smelly?

Clean it when it gets a little smelly and adding more of whatever you're using for bedding doesn't solve the problem.

BTW -- This assumes good ventilation in the coop. A badly-ventilated coop will always stink from the buildup of ammonia in the air.

 

[3KillerBs]

Also, how much ventilation do I need for this to work?

The usual advice is 1 square foot per bird.

My in-town coop had a monitor roof and some people have questioned whether I met that requirement, but I considered it tested and proven when I could put my head and shoulders into the coop on a hot, steamy, NC afternoon and find that the coop was no warmer than the outside air. However, and this is an important however, I never closed the pop door to the predator-hardened run.

 

[rosemarythyme]

What if I cleaned to poops every day? Also, if I use the deep litter meathead, how often will I have to clean out the coop?

This is what I do, though I use deep bedding, not deep litter, in coop. I clean up poop under roosts daily, and clean out twice a year. That frequency of cleaning may or may not work for everyone, as it varies by size and style of coop, number of birds, litter material used, ventilation, etc.

Also, how much ventilation do I need for this to work? Sorry so many questions.

Minimum 1 sq ft per chicken is a good place to start. More if possible.

 

[ChickForLife]

The usual advice is 1 square foot per bird.

My in-town coop had a monitor roof and some people have questioned whether I met that requirement, but I considered it tested and proven when I could put my head and shoulders into the coop on a hot, steamy, NC afternoon and find that the coop was no warmer than the outside air. However, and this is an important however, I never closed the pop door to the predator-hardened run.

View attachment 2152627

Would this same thing work in the northern states like CT?

 

[iwltfum]

Would this same thing work in the northern states like CT?

Winter ventilation is difficult up here in the NE. I have a large vent window going across the entire length of my coops for summer ventilation and smaller windows that I can slide open and shut to adjust the size of the opening for winter ventilation. Spring and fall is a combination of the two. Switching from one to the other day to day depending on the temperature, wind, and wind direction. If you used the style of coop ventilation that @3KillerBs shared a picture of, you might want to be able to cover those vents partially or fully for winter weather.

 

[3KillerBs]

Would this same thing work in the northern states like CT?

I don't have any experience with northern conditions but I have read on here that cold weather still requires plenty of ventilation to remove the moisture that would cause frostbite.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Would this same thing work in the northern states like CT?

It's important in colder climates to have ventilation open even during winter, because you need the moisture that builds up in the coop to escape, so chicken's feathers stay dry as possible (dry feathers hold in heat better) and to reduce risk of frostbite.

We don't get that cold here but I leave everything open regardless of rain, snow or shine. At most, during a big snow storm, I'll close the two windows next to the roosts, but that still leaves me with more than 1.5 sq ft of open ventilation per bird.

 

[3KillerBs]

We don't get that cold here but I leave everything open regardless of rain, snow or shine.

We're going to replace the rotted OSB wall on that coop and replace the damaged roof. When we do we're going to increase the roof overhangs about 25% and possibly change the nestbox opening to a front drop down instead of a roof lift. Then it will turn into a brooder/broody hen facility after we build the larger coop on the new property.

 

[aart]

The terms 'deep litter' and 'deep bedding' are often misunderstood and misapplied.
I've always liked this explanation:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-method-with-this-coop.1075545/#post-16440037