Poop Boards above nesting boxes, show them? Please.

[wannabchick]

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[Newbie in Screamer Al]

I also put stick on vinyl 18x18 inch pcs. on the poop boards for an easy clean off with litter scooper. They run on all 3 sides of the coop too, with nest boxes on only 2 sides.

 

[WoofMeowCluck]

Wow, you all have some great set ups! Thanks so much for sharing them, it'll make planning much easier now.

 

[ChooksChick]

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Yes, that does give me a better idea, thanks. I could modify that as I want the roosts to be lower, the Marans are on the heavy side and I'm always worried they will get hurt jumping up and off the roosts. I could also make a walk board to use as well. So much to do and so little time to get it done!! I'm looking for another coop or a used shed to convert. How did that happen? Last year I thought one coop would be PLENTY - now I'm think maybe 3 coops would be better

It's GOOD for birds to have to jump up and flap on the way down. They have both lungs and air-sacs so they get an air exchange even when they exhale- but the act of flapping and jumping increases oxygen exchange dramatically, so we should encourage it. The big caveat is that we MUST provide ample cushioning for the landing, hence my deep hay. They can suffer Bumblefoot from small tears if they land heavily on a hard surface (they get a staph infection in the tiny tears on the foot cushion) OR WORSE, like the broken pelvis many heavy breeds suffer from a hard landing.

Ideally, they shouldn't go up or down more than 3 feet if a heavy breed- and it should be well cushioned by litter.

 

[jenesis536]

How do your chickens get up there to roost?


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[WoofMeowCluck]

Oh great info, I hadn't even thought of that, thanks! I think I'm ok in the bedding department. The shavings are so deep it's hard to open the door into the coop

The ladder roost is kind of gross to me, they walk in their dropping during the day. I've been using the DL method and do stir it up on a regular basis. I'm planning to worm them this weekend so I'll be in the coop bright and early to clean under the roost the next morning and get them outside so the coop can be completely cleaned and put in the covered compost. Off topic - but what do you think the best wormer is? I use the (horse wormer) Zimecterin Gold, it's Ivermec 1.55% and praziquantel 7.75%. It's a bummer to toss eggs for two weeks.