Keeping coop clean?

[hensandchickscolorado]

Every day I throw scratch in my run and put out treats (usually veggie & fruit scraps). The girls usually don't finish the treats, so I let them stay out a day or two. I rake up the run every couple of days or so.

Today I went out to a TON of flies & a few bees buzzing around yesterday's watermelon rinds & the chick poo.

I would like to have a nice clean run. How long can scraps stay out? Will they get infested with something and make the chicks sick? How often should I be raking it out??

I have a dirt floor that I sprinkle with DE once in a while.

Thanks!

 

[mljohnson05]

When i put treats out, i always pick it up when i tuck them in bed at night, esp. in this heat, but that is just me......if i don't i know there will be bugs galore in the morning...

 

[PHILMAN]

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[RhodeIslandRedFan]

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[Kudzu]

Yep, sounds like my run, the flies let me know when it is time to clean up.

 

[citychickx6]

LOL I used one of my baking dishes to take food (treats) out to them and it has become a favorite thing for them.
The only food on the ground is what they are fussing over. But then again they tend to empty the whole thing so I have only had to pick up watermelon rind and corn cobs.

They see the dish and meet me at the gate.

 

[Nicole01]

I leave scraps for no longer then 20 minutes. If the juice from watermelon is on the ground, I wash immediately.

I rake 1-2 times a week, take out the poo and then hose down the run. I will spot clean the run 1-2 times a day. I clean the coop 3-5 times a day. Since the coop is in the garage, I like to keep as clean as possible. I use DE in the coop and there are no flies or bugs. I love spending time with my girls, so I'm always out there.