How often to change bedding?

[chickens45]

I got my chicks suddenly a few weeks ago and wasn’t prepared for it but have done my best.

we made them a coop good sized run and for now we put a barrel inside the run and a large plastic box inside the barrel to sleep in.

I had some straw in the garage and so have been using that as their bedding and usually change it every 1-2 weeks in the plastic box

As for the coop run, every couple weeks I’ll rake up all the straw and pick up poop then sprinkle new straw down

I wasnt sure if their bedding really needs changed so often or not.. but it does have lots of poop by that time and it bothers me for them to sleep on poop.

with the reopening of stores and everything i am planning on going to get them a real feeder and waterer.
Is there anything I need to buy for cleaning the coop?

 

[David61]

Add 2x2 and they will get out of the bedding and perch. My little ones were all sleeping on 2x2 at just a few days old.
By five weeks they were sleeping up on the roost.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Guess I'm a little confused... if there's a coop why are they housed inside a barrel?

As far as how often things need to be cleaned, really varies on a number of factors including number of birds, amount of space, materials used, climate, etc.

I clean out my coop (deep bedding of wood chips) twice a year, run (deep litter) doesn't really get cleared at all. I spot clean poop daily from under the roosts, as well as big obvious poops in the run.

 

[chickens45]

Guess I'm a little confused... if there's a coop why are they housed inside a barrel?

As far as how often things need to be cleaned, really varies on a number of factors including number of birds, amount of space, materials used, climate, etc.

I clean out my coop (deep bedding of wood chips) twice a year, run (deep litter) doesn't really get cleared at all. I spot clean poop daily from under the roosts, as well as big obvious poops in the run.

Because they are outside and the barrel was to keep rain off them

 

[chickens45]

I’m so clueless when it comes to chickens. I thought they needed a bed so I put a large box of straw they’ve been sleeping in every night. Do they prefer a roost to sleep on? I can do that too. They seem to like their box and all snuggle up together each night in it lol

slowly but surely I’m leaning chickens lol

 

[diamondsilkies]

I’m so clueless when it comes to chickens. I thought they needed a bed so I put a large box of straw they’ve been sleeping in every night. Do they prefer a roost to sleep on? I can do that too. They seem to like their box and all snuggle up together each night in it lol

slowly but surely I’m leaning chickens lol

What kind of chickens do you have? In my experience, silkies are the only ones that prefer to sleep on the ground. All the others prefer roosts if they are available; it's closest to how they would sleep in a natural environment (perched on trees) and makes them feel safe.

A picture or two of your set up would help, too.

 

[chickens45]

What kind of chickens do you have? In my experience, silkies are the only ones that prefer to sleep on the ground. All the others prefer roosts if they are available; it's closest to how they would sleep in a natural environment (perched on trees) and makes them feel safe.

A picture or two of your set up would help, too.

I think I have two barred Plymouth rocks and a production red.

here are some photos of them. I think 1&2 are roosters and 3 is a hen, but I’m not sure sure

I will try to remember to take photos of their coop!

 

[aart]

Need pics of coop and run, please.

Oh, and...... Welcome to BYC! @chickens45
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I’m so clueless when it comes to chickens. I thought they needed a bed so I put a large box of straw they’ve been sleeping in every night. Do they prefer a roost to sleep on? I can do that too. They seem to like their box and all snuggle up together each night in it lol

They don't HAVE to roost but their natural instinct is to want to sit up high. It also keeps them from sitting in their own poop at night, and may help a little bit with keeping parasites off of them.