how often do i need to clean??

[MsChickenMomma]

I have 14 chickens in an 8x10 coop. My chickens free range all year, so their coop doesn't get very dirty. Unless it's winter time. I clean the coop every two weeks, and I put about 2 inches of pine shavings in there. Sometimes I have to clean mine more than twice a month. It depends on how much of a mess they make, and how the coop smells.

In the winter I use twice that amount of pine shavings, and I only clean it once every two months. If it starts to smell bad I just put another lair of pine shavings over it.

 

[MsChickenMomma]

I have a question for everyone using sand as bedding. How expensive is the sand, and how deep do you make it? Also, what kind of sand do you use, and can you buy the sand at TSC? How often do you have to refresh the entire coop? I'm considering switching to that so I can easily scoop the waste out without having to clean the entire coop. I heard that sand is also much better for the chickens.

I also have a hen who is half blind in both eyes, and she can't and won't go outside by herself. Because I'm always so busy, I can't always sit outside with her. I was thinking that with the sand she would be able to enjoy some dust baths in the safety of her coop.

 

[kjgoodman]

I have a small coop with a pull out floor. I clean it once a week with a litter scoop. I bed with shavings. Seems to work great. every 2 weeks or soo, i just dump the whole thing out and add fresh. I also do put diatamacious dirt in once in awhile under the bedding

 

[Dawna]

My coop is small,big enough for 10 chickens to roost in at night. It also has 6 nests for laying inside. The coop is in a pen 6' H. x 10' W x 15' L. The chickens free range every day. I have two small trays inside the coop that I put a layer of about 1" of pine shavings. Every day I cover any piles of poop with the pine shavings and clean the trays out once a month. I rake out the pen once in a great while, but it usually doesn't need much cleaning

 

[Brookliner]

Has anyone ever head of putting lime on the floor of you coop. We are new at this. Currently they just have a dirt floor but someone said we should put lime down?

I would not use lime since depending on how heavy you put it down and what kind you use it could burn their feet. I prefer using PDZ and DE sprinkled over the bedding either wood chips or straw or if in the run sand. The PDZ and DE will absorb the ammonia and be a deterrent to lice and mites. You could sprinkle the PDZ and DE directly on the dirt. I have sandy dirt in my run. I rake it every so often.

 

[PandoraChick]

Just wondering how many of you are using the pine shavings? I have been using the wood pellets for a year and I think I could have fed a horse for what I have spent. I did not realize the pine shavings could be used for a deep litter.

I have been raking the nightly droppings out every day or so, and then adding a bag or two every week(2x6.00=$12.00 a week!).
The coop is 8x10 but they have an attached run, but free range from dawn to dusk..there are 15 hens.

This is our first full year with chickens, so we are getting ready to do a complete clean out and was thinking it would be a good time to switch methods.

I was looking into sand...our whole back lot is mostly sand..we live up against the dunes. Would this sand be ok to use or do I need to buy special sand?

 

[salt and pepper]

Just wondering how many of you are using the pine shavings? I have been using the wood pellets for a year and I think I could have fed a horse for what I have spent. I did not realize the pine shavings could be used for a deep litter.

I have been raking the nightly droppings out every day or so, and then adding a bag or two every week(2x6.00=$12.00 a week!).
The coop is 8x10 but they have an attached run, but free range from dawn to dusk..there are 15 hens.

This is our first full year with chickens, so we are getting ready to do a complete clean out and was thinking it would be a good time to switch methods.

I was looking into sand...our whole back lot is mostly sand..we live up against the dunes. Would this sand be ok to use or do I need to buy special sand?

I use shavings in my grow out coop, but not in my adult coop. In the adult coop, I use straw, since it's cheaper, and lasts longer. With shavings, I have to clean it every one or two weeks, with straw, I clean it once every one or two months, so, a lot better. I have no experience with sand, but am looking into it for my runs.

 

[kjgoodman]

I find Pine shavings quite a bit cheaper and a lot easier to clean. You could also see if you could get the sawdust from your local saw mill. although those are not as easy to find as they used to be.

 

[RedneckGurl]

Just wondering how many of you are using the pine shavings? I have been using the wood pellets for a year and I think I could have fed a horse for what I have spent. I did not realize the pine shavings could be used for a deep litter.

I have been raking the nightly droppings out every day or so, and then adding a bag or two every week(2x6.00=$12.00 a week!).
The coop is 8x10 but they have an attached run, but free range from dawn to dusk..there are 15 hens.

This is our first full year with chickens, so we are getting ready to do a complete clean out and was thinking it would be a good time to switch methods.

I was looking into sand...our whole back lot is mostly sand..we live up against the dunes. Would this sand be ok to use or do I need to buy special sand?

Most people suggest river sand or something like builders sand which is coarse and has larger pieces of sand and rocks so the chickens get plenty of grit for food digestion. The only thing I've seen on here that you definitely should not get is the fine playground or artificial beach type sand which is usually white and very refined and tends to pack down easily. Sounds like you have access to lots of free sand right outside your door so I'm jealous. I will have to purchase mine from a local quarry and have it delivered by dump truck since I need several tons to fill my run.

 

[graciesmum]

Mine love the rain lmao, I keep finding them roaming around even when its hammering it down

I use hay as bedding, and I plan on shoveling out the straw once a season, hose down the coop and then put new straw in. I am new to this, so am still on my first straw...The coop is 18x20 ft and I only have 10 chickens right now, and they all free range all day unless it is raining, and sometimes even then, but they stand under things. Lol. Chickens do not like the rain. At least mine don't. I am planning on adding 30 more chickens before the warm weather is gone...so then we will see how it all goes. I feel like the coop and straw the way it is might be able to go forever..Lol. Still smells more like hay, then like chickens.