Official BYC Poll: How Often Do You Clean Your Coop?

[Clukcluks]

Clukcluks: I really like the hemp.It's pricey but I don't use it too much. None under the roost where they sleep, I just have one area of the run where I use it for the deep litter method. (only 4 birds). It's nice and fluffy and the poop falls through the bottom. They mix it with dirt pretty quickly though. The rest of the run is bare dirt which they keep churning up to find grubs. I don't put the hemp everywhere because it gets in the water. If they poop where I don't want it I rake it into the deep litter area morning and night.

Hello SO CAL CHICKEN MAMA. I also have a all dirt 16x6x6 run. I clean it up every day, just because I have a bit of the OCD like Pyrofreek has My coop is 5x5x5 and I have straw, pretty deap and I have noticed that they don't poop that much in their. I think maybe I'll clean up and change out the straw tomorrow morning. I have only been at this clucking chicken daddy for over a month now.

 

[PLW]

I clean my 4 coops early each morning. What makes easy cleaning is sand. Simply scoop the poop and put it in a bucket and dispose of it. Done.
Other than building coops to withstand strong storms including cat 1 hurricanes, ease of cleaning coops was a priority. It takes me about 30 minutes to clean out coops each morning.

Good morning! Do you have a particular style or brand of coop that makes cleaning easy? I'm still researching options. Thanks

 

[BonnieBlue]

I clean my 4 coops early each morning. What makes easy cleaning is sand. Simply scoop the poop and put it in a bucket and dispose of it. Done.
Other than building coops to withstand strong storms including cat 1 hurricanes, ease of cleaning coops was a priority. It takes me about 30 minutes to clean out coops each morning.

Same (with one) and same reason. Sand. I am in the process of building a new coop and run now, and they are being built to withstand a medium cat 2. Fortunately, my new place will be further inland so winds should be died down by the time they get to me.

Also, just as with my small one, sand. I use it in coop and run. Since my coop is small now, it takes me approx 5 minutes to clean well. I anticipate probably 10 minutes in the new one. Tops.

I also pick up poop in the run every evening. I just walk around with a scoop and get what I see. It takes <5 minutes for that in a small run. I'll do same with the new, covered, sand floored run. It gives me more chicken poop to compost for the garden, and regular quick scooping keeps the perponderance of poop down, and overall healthier for the girls.

 

[Knobby]

We're suppose to clean out the coops?

 

[BDutch]

We're suppose to clean out the coops?

No need to clean out the coop at all, if the chickens free range 24/7.

 

[Knobby]

No need to clean out the coop at all, if the chickens free range 24/7.

I wish I could let them free range, but I currently have 3 hawks, a falcon, several coyotes and foxes that like to drop by and say hello from time to time.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

No need to clean out the coop at all, if the chickens free range 24/7.

I do have to ask: what about the nighttime poop?

Ours leave a perfect line of poop between the two roosts, depending on which way they’re facing.

I’m VERY relaxed about cleaning, but this is a no-go. Or, it’s very much a go: I’m not leaving it in the coop.

Note: deep bedding (dry compost method, etc.) will not work in my coop.

 

[BDutch]

I do have to ask: what about the nighttime poop?

Ours leave a perfect line of poop between the two roosts, depending on which way they’re facing.

I’m VERY relaxed about cleaning, but this is a no-go. Or, it’s very much a go: I’m not leaving it in the coop.

Note: deep bedding (dry compost method, etc.) will not work in my coop.

I just gave a silly reaction to @Knobby saying:” We're suppose to clean out the coops?”
The only way you don’t need to clean is leave them outside. Day AND night.
I know someone who had free ranging chickens that preferred to sleep outside and she did not know how or care enough to get them back inside. She lives in a forest and the chickens all vanished within 18 months. I know someone else in a farm village who does the same with a rare casualty. She and a few neighbours have a rooster to make alarm calls and for offspring.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I just gave a silly reaction to @Knobby saying:” We're suppose to clean out the coops?”
The only way you don’t need to clean is leave them outside. Day AND night.
I know someone who had free ranging chickens that preferred to sleep outside and she did not know how or care enough to get them back inside. She lives in a forest and the chickens all vanished within 18 months. I know someone else in a farm village who does the same with a rare casualty. She and a few neighbours have a rooster to make alarm calls and for offspring.

Ahh, I see! I thought you had found a miracle!

 

[OLDRanch]

I clean my coop whenever it needs it. I am cleaning it out about every week right now because I noticed my to Brahmas have some scaley leg mites.