Poop Board Tips

[jklhgyfhg]

I just wanted to share what I found helped with cleaning my poop board.
Sprinkle a single layer of wood shavings onto the board! There is no sticking of poop to the board, the chips absorb moisture quickly, and it is very easy to clean up. If doing the deep litter method, shavings are most likely already being used for the flooring and using some on a poop board may not be much of an added cost when compared to using sand. Personally, I have an abundance of wood chips at my disposal as my partner and I process firewood, so this is a free alternative for me, however, I came up with a just a few benefits when looking at cost (no matter how small)
1) there is no need to create a resilient, sturdy poop board with edges (cost of material and time to make). The poop board I have is an old scrap of wood, there is no need to take into account any weight on it as it is just sitting there, the weight of sand vs shavings adds up quickly.
2) there is no need to purchase a litter scoop to scoop the poop
3) there is no need to purchase sand (where I am it is not cheap!)

My favourite aspect is that I compost the chicken poop so the wood chips are a great addition to rounding out the compost. I am sure there are other added benefits, but the biggest thing is that I like to use what I have and not create costs simply for my convenience.

Do you have any tips or tricks for a poop board that worked for you and your chickens?

 

[RogerChicken]

The one tip I've heard, and don't doubt: The further the drop, the bigger the splatter.

 

[Sally PB]

I put sweet PDZ on mine, and it takes care of any smell. I bet a thick layer of shavings would do the same thing. Another thing I like about the PDZ is how quickly it dries the poop out. Yes, it does need a lip on the edge of the board to keep it on the board.

 

[aart]

I use PDZ too...all poops go to a friends compost.

If doing the deep litter method, shavings are most likely already being used for the flooring and using some on a poop board may not be much of an added cost when compared to using sand.

If doing deep litter, poop boards are not usually used.

 

[jklhgyfhg]

I use PDZ too...all poops go to a friends compost.


If doing deep litter, poop boards are not used.

One can absolutely combine deep litter with a poop board! I don't understand why you believe that one wouldn't (or can't) combine the two. A poop board is a brilliant means to increase valuable, usable space inside the coop under a roost and deep litter is a description of a style of coop bedding. Two completely different purposes.

 

[aart]

One can absolutely combine deep litter with a poop board! I don't understand why you believe that one wouldn't (or can't) combine the two. A poop board is a brilliant means to increase valuable, usable space inside the coop under a roost and deep litter is a description of a style of coop bedding. Two completely different purposes.

I should have added some clarifiers, have done so now.

I'll reiterate.
Poop boards are generally used to get the poop out of the coop on the daily or weekly, to add it to a compost, and to extend the life of floor bedding.
Yes, they do kind of 'add space' to the coop, but that is not the main purpose.

Most keepers that are doing a true composting deep litter want that poop in the bedding.

I'll ask @3KillerBs to explain the difference between deep litter and deep bedding,
many do not know the difference.

 

[3KillerBs]

I'll ask @3KillerBs to explain the difference between deep litter and deep bedding,
many do not know the difference.

Sure.

This is the definition that I used in my article on Deep Bedding:

Deep Bedding: A dry, non-composting system where you keep adding bedding to the coop as it becomes soiled -- managing it by turning it as necessary (or getting the chickens to turn it for you) -- and clean it out only infrequently when the bedding has become both thoroughly soiled and piled up to the point of not being able to add more. Usually used above a floor in the coop but *can* be done in a covered run over dirt in a favorable climate.
Deep Litter: A moist (not wet, moist), system where the lower layers of material are actively composting while new, dry material is continually added to the top. *Can* be done on any floor surface but is most readily accomplished on a dirt floor because the dirt will seed the material with the beneficial composting organisms.

I haven't been following this thread since I don't use poop boards and figured that I had no useful input on them.

 

[Sammster]

I put sweet PDZ on mine, and it takes care of any smell. I bet a thick layer of shavings would do the same thing. Another thing I like about the PDZ is how quickly it dries the poop out. Yes, it does need a lip on the edge of the board to keep it on the board.

So true! I use PDZ and the humidity level in the coop remains lower than the humidity level outside

 

[catballou]

I just wanted to share what I found helped with cleaning my poop board.
Sprinkle a single layer of wood shavings onto the board! There is no sticking of poop to the board, the chips absorb moisture quickly, and it is very easy to clean up. If doing the deep litter method, shavings are most likely already being used for the flooring and using some on a poop board may not be much of an added cost when compared to using sand. Personally, I have an abundance of wood chips at my disposal as my partner and I process firewood, so this is a free alternative for me, however, I came up with a just a few benefits when looking at cost (no matter how small)
1) there is no need to create a resilient, sturdy poop board with edges (cost of material and time to make). The poop board I have is an old scrap of wood, there is no need to take into account any weight on it as it is just sitting there, the weight of sand vs shavings adds up quickly.
2) there is no need to purchase a litter scoop to scoop the poop
3) there is no need to purchase sand (where I am it is not cheap!)

My favourite aspect is that I compost the chicken poop so the wood chips are a great addition to rounding out the compost. I am sure there are other added benefits, but the biggest thing is that I like to use what I have and not create costs simply for my convenience.

Do you have any tips or tricks for a poop board that worked for you and your chickens?

Exactly what I do! Nothing hardly sticks to the poop trays

 

[Devorah]

I just wanted to share what I found helped with cleaning my poop board.
Sprinkle a single layer of wood shavings onto the board! There is no sticking of poop to the board, the chips absorb moisture quickly, and it is very easy to clean up. If doing the deep litter method, shavings are most likely already being used for the flooring and using some on a poop board may not be much of an added cost when compared to using sand. Personally, I have an abundance of wood chips at my disposal as my partner and I process firewood, so this is a free alternative for me, however, I came up with a just a few benefits when looking at cost (no matter how small)
1) there is no need to create a resilient, sturdy poop board with edges (cost of material and time to make). The poop board I have is an old scrap of wood, there is no need to take into account any weight on it as it is just sitting there, the weight of sand vs shavings adds up quickly.
2) there is no need to purchase a litter scoop to scoop the poop
3) there is no need to purchase sand (where I am it is not cheap!)

My favourite aspect is that I compost the chicken poop so the wood chips are a great addition to rounding out the compost. I am sure there are other added benefits, but the biggest thing is that I like to use what I have and not create costs simply for my convenience.

Do you have any tips or tricks for a poop board that worked for you and your chickens?

What do you remove the poop with?