Keeping the inside of my coop dry/clean in winter

[TheEggCollecter]

Yes, definitely make sure the coop is ventilating properly. I used to use draw but it does not absorb well. These vapors aren't absorbed into the bedding and are left in the air. This makes everything wet and gross. Instead of straw try wood chips or wood shavings.

 

[aart]

I'd get all the wet straw out of there pronto and put lots of pine shavings in.
Make sure there are no sources of water getting in the coop...leaky roof-windows-walls, spilled waterers, etc.

 

[coop-er]

I'd get all the wet straw out of there pronto and put lots of pine shavings in.
Make sure there are no sources of water getting in the coop...leaky roof-windows-walls, spilled waterers, etc.

This is my first winter with this old coop and I believe that is the problem. I think there are several leaky areas. We are building a new coop but the birds need to stay in this one awhile longer. If I switch to pine shavings won't I just have alot of wet shavings? That seems harder to clean up. Flaked or fine?

 

[aart]

This is my first winter with this old coop and I believe that is the problem. I think there are several leaky areas. We are building a new coop but the birds need to stay in this one awhile longer. If I switch to pine shavings won't I just have alot of wet shavings? That seems harder to clean up. Flaked or fine?

I'd try to stop the leaks asap...I like the larger shavings better.

If you watch closely the first few days with the dry bedding you should be able to find the leaks and hopefully stop them or slow them down. Is the coop on the ground or raised up?

 

[coop-er]

I'd try to stop the leaks asap...I like the larger shavings better.

If you watch closely the first few days with the dry bedding you should be able to find the leaks and hopefully stop them or slow them down. Is the coop on the ground or raised up?

It's a tractor coop, but it has a second floor so the birds are not on the ground

 

[Mark1]

Coop-er, I would get the straw out and go with pine shavings, 10 cu.ft. packages should be available at any feed or farm store, and it will cover a large area.

I started out with pine shavings and switched to straw for a short while before going back to shavings. I found the straw kept the moisture from evaporating, it would be damp underneath even after a month or so of dry weather, and it created a very smelly environment that I never had with shavings.

 

[coop-er]

Coop-er, I would get the straw out and go with pine shavings, 10 cu.ft. packages should be available at any feed or farm store, and it will cover a large area.

 I started out with pine shavings and switched to straw for a short while before going back to shavings. I found the straw kept the moisture from evaporating, it would be damp underneath even after a month or so of dry weather, and it created a very smelly environment that I never had with shavings.

Thanks...I will take care of this today!

 

[sdm111]

Deep Pea gravel works great to drain and keep the birds out of the muck but is more practical to do before birds arrive

 

[coop-er]

Deep Pea gravel works great to drain and keep the birds out of the muck but is more practical to do before birds arrive

Is this better than sand??

 

[blucoondawg]

In my opinion pea gravel is more something you would do to build up your run area if you had a water/mud problem, I wouldn't put pea gravel in a coop, however I am not a fan of sand either but in my situation I am a little bigger scale than those with just a couple chickens in their backyard, I can see the sand being handy there for those who like to simply scoop up the poop with a cat litter scooper every day or 2, honestly I think if you have more than a few birds that is too much bother, easier to go with wood shavings and rake in the poop, add more shavings when needed.

As far as the possible leaks go would it be possible to wrap the top of the coop area with a small tarp in such a way that water really can't get under it while still leaving open enough ventilation? Be careful not to cause a draft on the birds, small tractor type coops can be difficult to vent well without having a draft on their roosting area.