how often do i need to clean??

[jkhenry]

im new to the terms used is the run the space the chickens have to roam inside the pen ? and the coop where they roost and lay their eggs ? i get confused my pen is 24'x16' with sn 8'x8' hen house inside for roosting and laying

 

[Slickster3211]

im new to the terms used is the run the space the chickens have to roam inside the pen ? and the coop where they roost and lay their eggs ? i get confused my pen is 24'x16' with sn 8'x8' hen house inside for roosting and laying

The pen or run, is outside, where they can peck and scratch, we keep their food and water out in our pen.
The coop is where they sleep at night and once they are used to it, they will go in there on their own at night.
You will need about 1 box for every 3 hens. Just to be on the safe side we got 2, they aren't that expensive.

Our flock is free range, so in the morning we open the coop into the pen, and leave the pen open, so they have our whole yard and neighbors yard and 40 achers of woods behind our house. They come back at dusk and we lock them up and then it starts over.

Here's the chickens, with the pen that is open chicken wire, and the coop is further to the right.

 

[Slickster3211]

R

is there a way to get them to use more then one nesting box? and if i have 12 to 18 hens how many nesting boxes should i have??( i don't have the hens yet)

Read what I typed above. Lol.

 

[jkhenry]

ok now i got it i have 8 chicks and 2 ducklings. i have 2 nest boxes now and plan on getting 2 more with puttin 2 box on ground for ducks. then i will have plenty of run and coop for my girls lol thanx

 

[Slickster3211]

ok now i got it i have 8 chicks and 2 ducklings. i have 2 nest boxes now and plan on getting 2 more with puttin 2 box on ground for ducks. then i will have plenty of run and coop for my girls lol thanx

Welcome! Hope everything works out! And I also recommend ALOT of ventilation points in your coop. You can always close them up if its too much, but too little can be a bad thing.

 

[jkhenry]

thanx for all the tips and trix on raising my babies ive been doin research on my own but this is so much simpler and gives me new ideas i would have never thought of thanx BYC members

 

[Rainey Ranch]

3-5 hens per nesting box, all 6 of our hens use 2 boxes. (some days one)

 

[Rainey Ranch]

yes, have a well vented coop..

 

[TonyDomino]

Sand and a big pooper scooper

 

[salt and pepper]

I use straw/ hay, and clean it once a month, used to clean it more often, but instead of mixing the bedding, I started cleaning under the roosts, keeps it sooooo much cleaner!