How Often Should I Clean Out my Coop?

[mindylee]

Don't use sawdust! You can get bales of "pine wood shavings" at your local feed store...Sawdust packs down and will retain moisture...just FYI!!

The sawdust I use is a finer version then them lil bales from the feed store.

I work at the feed store and I even get a discount and still dont buy them. My dust comes from a horse boarding facility that gets it by the semi load. I pay $7 per 65lb bag. I have no moisture in my coop and it works best for me.

Again this is my opinion and what works for me, it might not for the next person.

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[Sunnydays]

How big is your coop area? I have a 10 x 9 ...

So you use construction sand how thick should I put it down in my barn/coop??

Does it get smelly fast? how often would I have to clean it and replace? Do I add new sand monthly or what?? Explain please, thanks!

Probably less dust comparing to flake I use...

Ta

 

[Hokum Coco]

There are practically as many cleaning regiments as there are coops. When flies and ammonia smell become noticeable and prevalent is a good rule of thumb. Every set up is different. In my set up I clean my poop boards weekly through the summer (when they spend more time in the run)

Nest boxes
In my nest boxes I fold a feed bag to fit (nest boxes are 1 ft³). When a bag gets soiled; fold a new one; pop out the soiled; pop in the new. Feed bags are a nylon mesh bag frozen poop just peels off in below freezing temperatures and just flakes off in summer when left out in the sun to bake and dry.



POOP BOARDS are the "BEST" addition yet. Handles well over ½ of the poop in my set up keeps ammonia smell in check 3½" below roost excellent for catching eggs laid through the night (roost are in cups for easier removal and cleaning). I recently friction fit a piece of vinyl flooring over my poop board.it makes clean up even easier; Pop out; Scrap; Hose; Pop in.

Winter months even easier flex over compost bin DONE!
I heavy clean my coop in October just after I put my garden to bed.

Easy peasy!.

 

[Hokum Coco]

I just finished coop construction and my girls have been using it for 2 days now. My question is how often should I be cleaning it out to keep it sanitary and not so smelly? Inside there's a linoleum floor covered in hay.

Suggestions and thoughts?
Thanks!
xxx

There are practically as many cleaning regiments as there are coops. When flies and ammonia smell become noticeable and prevalent is a good rule of thumb. Every set up is different. In my set up I clean my poop boards weekly through the summer (when they spend more time in the run)

Nest boxes
In my nest boxes I fold a feed bag to fit (nest boxes are 1 ft³). When a bag gets soiled; fold a new one; pop out the soiled; pop in the new. Feed bags are a nylon mesh bag frozen poop just peels off in below freezing temperatures and just flakes off in summer when left out in the sun to bake and dry.



POOP BOARDS are the "BEST" addition yet. Handles well over ½ of the poop in my set up keeps ammonia smell in check 3½" below roost excellent for catching eggs laid through the night (roost are in cups for easier removal and cleaning). I recently friction fit a piece of vinyl flooring over my poop board.it makes clean up even easier; Pop out; Scrap; Hose; Pop in.

Winter months even easier flex over compost bin DONE!
I heavy clean my coop in October just after I put my garden to bed.

Easy peasy!.

 

[mandtroof]

I use equestrian pellets and love them! No smell, absorbs everything.

 

[JSossong]

Thank you everyone for your answers!

I've still been using hay...it's working great so far.
I've been cleaning the "poop boards" weekly- I add a new layer of hay every week and then have been completely cleaning (remove hay, sweep up, scrap off extra poo, replace hay, etc.) every 2-3 weeks. So far this has been working perfectly. I just added 12 more into my coop so we'll see how it goes having so many more chickens.

 

[iwiw60]

Thank you everyone for your answers!

I've still been using hay...it's working great so far.
I've been cleaning the "poop boards" weekly- I add a new layer of hay every week and then have been completely cleaning (remove hay, sweep up, scrap off extra poo, replace hay, etc.) every 2-3 weeks. So far this has been working perfectly. I just added 12 more into my coop so we'll see how it goes having so many more chickens.

So how many chickens will you have now in your coop...what size is your coop?

 

[JSossong]

@iwiw60 I have 23 total. And my coop is 8'x10'.

I just added chicks in-so for now they're in their brooder-separate from my other girls. In a few weeks they'll all be together sharing the same space.

 

[olympiangirl]

@iwiw60 How often do you clear out with sand? I'm debating using sand as opposed to DLM.

 

[iwiw60]

@iwiw60 How often do you clear out with sand? I'm debating using sand as opposed to DLM.

Uh....you must be confusing me with another member. I don't use sand in my coop. I use pine shavings...