poop board in a small coop

[cafarmgirl]

LauraSac brings up a good point: Being in Chicago your birds may want to be inside a lot more during winter weather so enough floor space will be important. I'm in CA too and even here, when we have a stormy day, they hang out in the coop more.

 

[LauraSac]

Establishing a routine takes a while, but you'll figure it out. I have a feeder, and extra feed (and treats) in a locking tin can that I keep right outside the run. My two are very vocal when they see me, so for my neighbors' sake, I try to do my "morning chores" quickly. I can't wait for mine to start laying, but like you said, they're very entertaining when they're free ranging. That's how they earn their keep for now!

 

[Chi town roost]

Thanks all for your input now that the summer is over I have settled on a sand floor with a tray to hold the sand under the roost. It seems to work well. I can clean it easily with a kitty litter scoop and when I feel the need to get rid of some I sprinkle it in the lawn to break up some of that clay soil we have in Illinois. This process seemed to cut down my cost on pine shavings since they are only really needed in the nesting box. Vary rarely do I need to replace that. I do it more out of desire to keep it clean than a need to clean. I sprinkle sweet Pdz about once a week to keep it fresh. I found that a McDonalds coffee cup with the hole in the top seems to work well as a shaker to spread PDZ in the coop.It gives me a thin layer that spreads well. A 16oz cup will give me two coverages of the coop.
If anyone sees I am doing something wrong it my care of the girls I would appreciate a comment with an alterative. This just seems to work right now. I know things will change when winter hits.

 

[ampho]

We like using just PDZ on the poop board, no smell, easy scoop! it lasts a really long time, might work better than plain sand! good luck!