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I have a question for who have poop boards in their coops: Does anyone regret to have it? I didn't have poop board in my last coop because we had a big coop for only 6 chickens. Now I have even bigger coop for about 5 chickens, but I find that I have no place for a roost without adding a poop board. :he I have too many windows and doors, which I like a lot. So I consider have a poop board on top of the nesting boxes. I many not want to clean it everyday though. Is that ok to only clean it every other day?
 
TillyPeeps said:
I have a question for who have poop boards in their coops: Does anyone regret to have it? I didn't have poop board in my last coop because we had a big coop for only 6 chickens. Now I have even bigger coop for about 5 chickens, but I find that I have no place for a roost without adding a poop board. :he I have too many windows and doors, which I like a lot. So I consider have a poop board on top of the nesting boxes. I many not want to clean it everyday though. Is that ok to only clean it every other day?
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I have poop boards and would never again be without them. They keep the floor of the coop so much cleaner. I rarely clean them daily lol
 
fisherlady said:
:hugsThis is a frustrating time of year when dealing with vulnerable birds, the temperature swings are hard on them. We don't have quail but we do have some seniors who are having trouble with the effects of the cold.
We had a problem cockerel who needed to go tonight and since we were taking care of him we decided to also cull 3 older hens who have had problems recently. We have a rather elderly population of hens (many 6-8 years old) and as much as I dislike doing it there will be a few more we need to take care of before the hard cold sets in due to their arthritis and other problems. We have delayed doing culling as long as the hens seemed happy and hearty, even when they quit laying, but eventually the time comes...

And when you are ready for a few birds you can let me know , I have a few pullets you would like and a couple nice cockerels also if needed!
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We have older hens too and barely any eggs. But I don't have the heart to cull them. We've put in the time and work to save quite a few of them from illnesses. How do you know when it's time to cull? And what's the most humane way to cull them in your opinion? I was planning on just letting them die of old age?

TillyPeeps said:
I have a question for who have poop boards in their coops: Does anyone regret to have it? I didn't have poop board in my last coop because we had a big coop for only 6 chickens. Now I have even bigger coop for about 5 chickens, but I find that I have no place for a roost without adding a poop board. :he I have too many windows and doors, which I like a lot. So I consider have a poop board on top of the nesting boxes. I many not want to clean it everyday though. Is that ok to only clean it every other day?
Click to expand...

I've had a coop with no poop board, and now a coop with a poop board. I vote for poop boards!!! Chickens seem to poop the most when they're sleeping. Poop boards help keep the floor of the coop clean for longer. I scrape off the poop board about once a week. Use sweet PDZ or sand on the poop board for easier scooping, and scoop with a kitty litter scooper. Here's a picture of when we built ours.

IMG_0659.jpeg
 
FluffyButt789 said:
We have older hens too and barely any eggs. But I don't have the heart to cull them. We've put in the time and work to save quite a few of them from illnesses. How do you know when it's time to cull? And what's the most humane way to cull them in your opinion? I was planning on just letting them die of old age?



I've had a coop with no poop board, and now a coop with a poop board. I vote for poop boards!!! Chickens seem to poop the most when they're sleeping. Poop boards help keep the floor of the coop clean for longer. I scrape off the poop board about once a week. Use sweet PDZ or sand on the poop board for easier scooping, and scoop with a kitty litter scooper. Here's a picture of when we built ours.

View attachment 1941769
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I've never culled any older hens either. I usually find homes for them instead but I'd say the most humane way to cull is the broomstick method. It's simple and very quick. Over and done in an instant. That's how I cull my extra roos
 
We cull with a cone and carotid artery cut. It was a method we were used to from meat bird butchering so we stayed with it.

As far as when.... I go with the theory that if they are moving slow enough for us to notice then they have been hiding problems for a while. Birds do everything they can to avoid showing weakness, it makes them vulnerable to predators and losing rank in the pecking order.
When I notice hens staying really long on the roost in the mornings or starting to go in really early in the day it shows they are more tired or less able to get moving. When they quit laying eggs it is often time to cull within the next year because they become prone to tumors. Arthritis and fluid retention prone birds probably won't winter over well, so they will be culled in the fall. Any who are prone to breathing problems the previous year are usually also on the fall cull list to avoid outbreaks the following winter.
I don't turn over our birds every 2 or 3 years like some do, many are 6+ years old before they make 'the list'. It is a matter of practicality and actually is probably more merciful than letting the suffer in silence trying to hide weaknesses and problems. I am prone to puting it off until weather really starts to get cold because I like giving them the chance to enjoy the last warm days in the fall.
 
OneMountainAcres said:
I have poop boards and would never again be without them. They keep the floor of the coop so much cleaner. I rarely clean them daily lol
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FluffyButt789 said:
I've had a coop with no poop board, and now a coop with a poop board. I vote for poop boards!!! Chickens seem to poop the most when they're sleeping. Poop boards help keep the floor of the coop clean for longer. I scrape off the poop board about once a week. Use sweet PDZ or sand on the poop board for easier scooping, and scoop with a kitty litter scooper. Here's a picture of when we built ours.

View attachment 1941769
Click to expand...

Thanks for the information. OK, I decide to try add the poop board. I'll update coop progress photos later.
 

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