Must have supplies for clean coop

[3KillerBs]

I feel like I’m constantly buying pine shavings, maybe I’m not putting in enough initially?

It's supposed to break down as the poop and the bedding material compost. Can you get wood chips? They'll last longer. You can use any compost brown in there and a mix of different sizes and materials makes for better aeration and draining.

Often a landscape company will be willing to dump a truckload of chips on your property -- that way they don't have to pay to dispose of it. The chips need to be aged for a while before putting them in the run, but if you have space it's free.

 

[David61]

I kept thinking I was using the deep litter method I started with 6 bags of pine shavings (18x12ft) when I cleaned last but they scratch and I see dirt and now that it rained some areas are bare again. I feel like I’m constantly buying pine shavings, maybe I’m not putting in enough initially?

When I built my compost I made sure it was right next to the coop and sheep shed for when I clean.

Pine shavings I only use in a covered coop/run. I add one pine flake from tractor supply a month if that to my 6x14. I Change the nest bedding once a month and dump it on the floor and depending on how much it has rained or whats needed. Its 3/4 of the bail at lest by the time I refill the nest boxes and cover the back have with new. I rake everything forward to the high traffic area . Bare dirt by feeder and water. When it get deep and ugly i get the snow shovel and muck it out and go again. Every third or forth month.

If i didn't have a buddy with a tree service, I would be buying a little DR chipper and making my own for my 10x30 uncovered netted run.
I can get all the aged wood chips I need. I have many truck loads down. With a small DR chipper ($400-700) you could run all kinds of trimming form all your neighbors and make what you want. But chips can be had if you call around to tree services.

Did you have mites? Pretreating for mites doesn't work as it doesn't kill eggs, you need to treat active infestations. Elector PSP supposedly works very well though, if you do have an infestation.

Is there anything else you’d recommend to treat the infestation?
[/QUOTE]
I spray permethrin in my nest boxes once a month when i change bedding. I spray the roost and coop wood every other month. I squirt the birds sometimes if its been wet and dust is not everywhere for dust baths.
It stop any infestation. I have never had one because i use it as part of my regular coop maintenance.

 

[RomeoAlpha]

Pine shavings I only use in a covered coop/run. I add one pine flake from tractor supply a month if that to my 6x14. I Change the nest bedding once a month and dump it on the floor and depending on how much it has rained or whats needed. Its 3/4 of the bail at lest by the time I refill the nest boxes and cover the back have with new. I rake everything forward to the high traffic area . Bare dirt by feeder and water. When it get deep and ugly i get the snow shovel and muck it out and go again. Every third or forth month.

If i didn't have a buddy with a tree service, I would be buying a little DR chipper and making my own for my 10x30 uncovered netted run.
I can get all the aged wood chips I need. I have many truck loads down. With a small DR chipper ($400-700) you could run all kinds of trimming form all your neighbors and make what you want. But chips can be had if you call around to tree services.




Is there anything else you’d recommend to treat the infestation?

I spray permethrin in my nest boxes once a month when i change bedding. I spray the roost and coop wood every other month. I squirt the birds sometimes if its been wet and dust is not everywhere for dust baths.
It stop any infestation. I have never had one because i use it as part of my regular coop maintenance.
[/QUOTE]
Ok that makes sense. I totally want a wood chipper. I think it’s something we could talk hubby into down the line.

I’ll look into permethrin. Yes unfortunately I was not keeping my coop in best shape, just from not knowing what to do. So hopping to stop the infestation and prevent any future ones. Thank you!

 

[RomeoAlpha]

It's supposed to break down as the poop and the bedding material compost. Can you get wood chips? They'll last longer. You can use any compost brown in there and a mix of different sizes and materials makes for better aeration and draining.

Often a landscape company will be willing to dump a truckload of chips on your property -- that way they don't have to pay to dispose of it. The chips need to be aged for a while before putting them in the run, but if you have space it's free.

Ok, that’s a great idea, I do have the space I’m out in the country. So I’ll just have to look around for landscaping companies, I’d happily take the chips! I think that’s be a way easier solution than battling the pine shavings.

 

[brooklynzoo]

I invested in hemp bedding early on and am really glad I did! it smells great and is VERY absorbent. no stinky smell at all in the heated bathroom where they are brooding.

 

[David61]

permethrin, you can spray birds directly with no effect on eggs.
Its at tractor supply or any feed/farm place. $10-20 for concentrate bottle. Mix as instructed . 100cc per
16-32oz of water? I forget. Its on the label and on the forum as well.
Lice, mites bugs... Its the bomb. Here you go. Big bottle. You can get the smaller one. https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/control-solutions-permethrin-133-32-oz

 

[rosemarythyme]

Oh yeah that looks great! I like that idea, but the only thing I could think of is buying mulch, would that be the same?

Yes and no. Mulch is usually less chunky. It might be more convenient in that it can be bought bagged, but wood chips can be way more cost efficient (in my area, they can be gotten for free from tree service companies) and you can get it in larger quantities, provided you have space to store it.

I kept thinking I was using the deep litter method I started with 6 bags of pine shavings (18x12ft) when I cleaned last but they scratch and I see dirt and now that it rained some areas are bare again. I feel like I’m constantly buying pine shavings, maybe I’m not putting in enough initially?

So shavings are NOT my favorite. They're not great for drainage/aeration of deep litter and tend to just hold onto moisture, which is why you see so many people specifically say wood chips.

Is there anything else you’d recommend to treat the infestation?

Is the Elector PSP not working? I've read that it's really good, just costly. So I haven't tried it myself. I used permethrin (powder on chickens, liquid on coop) and it cleared up my mites in a couple of weeks.

 

[RomeoAlpha]

Tractor supply. I covered my poop board with vinyl flooring.
My roost is raised above my nest boxes on one end of the cover armored coop/run.

Thanks for the pics. I like your set up, I’m looking for some vinyl floor pieces online now! Thanks again!

 

[2Old2Crow]

permethrin

Permethrin is great for mites in Labs ears. As is natural chrysanthemum oil and alcohol. Probably perfect for chickens. I also read years ago the Sevin Dust works great on chickens. Just never had the huevos to put that stuff on my birds.

 

[RomeoAlpha]

permethrin, you can spray birds directly with no effect on eggs.
Its at tractor supply or any feed/farm place. $10-20 for concentrate bottle. Mix as instructed . 100cc per
16-32oz of water? I forget. Its on the label and on the forum as well.
Lice, mites bugs... Its the bomb. Here you go. Big bottle. You can get the smaller one. https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/control-solutions-permethrin-133-32-oz

Perfect thanks for the link! I’ll add it to my cleaning routine! Also glad it doesn’t have egg withdraw.