Is anyone else having to clean their coop in the dead of winter?

[pattgal]

I dunno, this deep litter thing is just not working for me. I've had to clean out the coop 3 times so far and there is still ~45 days till spring
I'm using wood shavings so it's not as hard to clean as hay
any help?

 

[sonew123]

I am a clean O holic-DLM does not work for me either--I can go about 3 weeks and then cave and do a complete clean out-the smell and all grosses me out! I turn and turn DE all over..clean out nasty spots etc....doesnt help I have 3 ducks in with them and they are the worst mess makers in winter!

 

[oberhaslikid]

I add limeand more bedding, but still after it thaws it still gets damp and smells.I have already cleaned 2 coops so far.

 

[TreeHugger]

I cleaned mine out again last week. My girls won't go out with snow on the ground and it gets messy pretty quick. It doesn't help that I've got pigeons sharing with the chickens, but the pigeon coop/loft should be completely finished this spring so I'm trying to get through the winter.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

This isn't really a fantastic method, but every time it snows I shovel parts of the chicken run for the girls. On top of the freshly shoveled area I throw some shovelfuls of litter from the coop (the girls love it) and then put more clean shavings into the coop. I'm HOPING that come spring thaw the shavings will help reduce the mud a bit in the run.

I haven't had to clean it out yet completely this winter (although I've wanted to quite a few times)...

Deep litter doesn't work for me, either.

 

[xke4]

I seem to recall that the Deep Litter method only works with a dirt floor. Is that what you have in your coop?
While speaking of coop cleanouts.....remember to use the tarp method while there is snow on the ground. So easy..simply spread a tarp over the door sill, shovel your shavings onto it, then Tarp Toboggan to where you want it dumped!

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
I do have 1 dirt floor coop that it actaully does work in-but it a 8 x 8 small coop-infact I just cleaned it out yesterday and filled another bag of shavings in there-smelled great and was totally dry-no ducks in there-its the other 6 that get me!!! they all have cement floors so I thought it wouldnt be that bad-but yowser pee youu!!!

 

[forrestacres]

I caved and had to clean out the shavings this weekend. The dust was unbelievable and it was hard for me to breathe in the coop. The girls seemed to appreciate the new shavings too.

 

[featherz]

Weird, mine still doesn't smell at all. Or maybe my nose is just broken. I DO use DE and Sweet PDZ in my litter and turn it daily or as often as I can. I bet when it finally thaws it's gonna smell horrible, but I already have someone willing to buy all my coop bedding (I have last years already in my garden). I've got probably 8-10 inches of shavings in one coop and about 8 in the other.

 

[Deanner03]

Quote:
This. Minus the ducks...but I CANNOT let it go. I turn/DE...still can't do it.