how often do i need to clean??

[flrn]

I agree completely!

 

[Keggen]

It occurred to me that I missed one important part. I use poop boards that catch about 90% of their droppings. I use Sweet PDZ and a litter scooper to clean them out as needed, at least 3 or 4 times a week.

If I didn't have them I think it would make a difference in how frequently I clean out the coop.

Also, I have only done the deep litter method on the floor of the coop during the winter. The rest of the year I clean it out much more often, especially in the summer when it's about once a week.

 

[Keggen]

It occurred to me that I missed one important part. I use poop boards that catch about 90% of their droppings. I use Sweet PDZ and a litter scooper to clean them out as needed, at least 3 or 4 times a week.

If I didn't have them I think it would make a difference in how frequently I clean out the coop.

Also, I have only done the deep litter method on the floor of the coop during the winter. The rest of the year I clean it out much more often, especially in the summer when it's about once a week.

 

[Fletch83]

For those of you that use Sweet PDZ -- I am using sand in my coop right now, since it's easy to scoop and rake. Does the Sweet PDZ clump, or is it more of a sand-like consistency? Do they chickens try to eat it?

 

[Keggen]

It's more like a sandy consistency, but definitely helps hold the poops together for scooping.

Once in a great while a hen will peck at it when I'm scooping but I think that is more out of curiosity about what I'm doing than actually eating it.

 

[AussieHens96]

Ours are free range, I just clean out the roosting area once a week and their boxes (because they're sleeping and laying in them) every day or two days, depending on how dirty they are and generally I just clean out the poo and apply another clean layer of soft wood shavings, dust free.

 

[RugenerGooser]

thats great! i was thinking of puting it around the coop and run, we live in the country so we have coyotes and i really don't want anything to happen to my chicks! (i haven't actuly got them yet!!

)

I have Great Pyrenees to help with predation also and they are great with my birds. I recommend getting the chicks before the pups.

 

[Nicole01]

I clean daily. Sometimes I'll clean a few times a day.

By doing this it keeps those pesky flies away.

 

[okmarge]

Thanks

I am still trying to figure out what is best for me. I clean and put new shavings down in the indoor coop ever 3 to 5 days. The shavings do make the poop drier so it can be swept out. the floor of the indoor coop is wood and I have to scrape it too! IN the roosting beds the shavings dry out the poop and then I can sweep it out pretty easy.
When I clean out the indoor coop I sweep the mess out into the coop yard and spread it around. I do not add new shavings to the outdoor area.
So far seems OK. I can see I will need to clean out outdoor area every 6 months or so.
So do you use any of the waste for compost?
Marge

 

[Nicole01]

I absolutely LOVE the compost! We use the compost for planting new trees and we fill our garden with compost.

Last year I planted 2 tiny maple trees in chicken poop compost the size of my pinky finger. I never expected them to live and they came back this year strong as can be! I'll take a pic of my tiny maples. I thought they were dead.

It's hard to see, but I'm pretty amazed!

I only spot clean in the chips. I don't replace them too often. I clean the run the most and the poop boards constantly.