How often should I clean the coop?

[atvmudrat]

I have 6 hens and one rooster. How often should I scrape the poop from the coop?

 

[justbugged]

When it starts to gross you out.

 

[Imp]

Quote:
Yes exactly!!!!!

Imp

Thank you JB

 

[froggiesheins]

I clean my coop everyday sometimes a quick pickup in the evening as well.

 

[justbugged]

It also will depend on your coop, and how many birds that live in it.

 

[Harrietsmum]

What is the poop dropping on to? (a poop board, lino, wood shavings?)

 

[atvmudrat]

The poop is dropping onto plywood that's covered in wood shavings. I've been scraping it out once per week and washing it out once per month. So far it hasn't grossed me out but I wanted to make sure I was doing what is safe/healthy for my 7 chickens. Thanks so much for the replies! All this knowledge helps.

 

[justbugged]

You seem to be handling things very well. I use Stall Dry and DE on my poop boards. The combo seems to keep things dryer.

 

[Captain Carrot]

you should clean it out before you HAVE to.

If they have lots of space inside the coop, then you don't have to clean it that often, in smaller coops cleaning a little everyday or every other day really helps.

In my chicken shed which is HUGE, I house 7 ducks and 7 chickens, I tend to clean it every two weeks or so. In my smaller coops which each house just three birds, I pick up the droppings and rake the bedding every two days.

If you can smell ammonia inside the coop, then you defiantly need to clean more often, or if the bedding gets wet.

 

[TigerLilly]

Do a search on "deep litter" method. People claim that by doing it this way, they only clean twice a year or so!