Poop boards for a small coop

[ctchopper]

We just built a small coop for 3 or 4 chickens. It's about 4x4x4(at lowest, 5 feet high at highest). This does not include nesting boxes. My question is, we put in two roosting bars but would like to add a poop board under the highest one - maybe even take the other one out. Roost is about 3 feet high with 2 feet of head room. How wide should the poop board be and could it hinder the chickens from getting up to it? Perhaps a very LOW poop board just above the shavings?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/594347/poop-board
Here is a thread that starts out with a bang but then has some nice pics in it...may be helpful.

 

[LauraSac]

I went to Michaels (arts and crafts store) and got cheap wooden trays (I think about $4 for a set of two) and put shelf liner in them. They work great for poop boards for my little coop. I pull it out and strain it or empty it into my compost bin daily. Very easy. I spray a lavender/vanilla/vodka mixture on it, add more shavings and put it back in. I ordered PDZ Sweet from my feed store and will start using that in the tray once it comes in.

 

[ctchopper]

Thanks guys,
I am wondering if I should just put a couple of poop boards on the ground since the quarters might become a bit cramped for maneuvering up to the roosts.

 

[4 the Birds]

Since you have limited head room, I would put your roost bar right on your poop board or with little separation. This will give you useable space below your poop board to place a feeder/waterer or even nest boxes. I use landscape timbers for my roost bars and a poop table down about 6 or 7 inches below. This allows me to scrape under the bar. I would much prefer the space gain under the poop board rather than space between the rooster bar and poop board. I also have ramps so the birds can walk up to the bars if they wish. Hope this helps.

 

[ctchopper]

That looks like a great set-up - bet the birds like it! Thanks for the idea.

 

[Hokum Coco]

How wide should the poop board be and could it hinder the chickens from getting up to it? Perhaps a very LOW poop board just above the shavings? I have 2 poop boards on either side of my coop and they are 24 inches wide I am thinking you could make them as narrow as 12" but I would not go any more narrow.

POOP BOARDS are the "BEST" addition yet. Handles well over ½ of the poop in my set up keeps ammonia smell in check 3½" below roost excellent for catching eggs laid through the night (roost are 2x4 in cups wide side up for easier removal and cleaning). I recently friction fit a piece of vinyl flooring over my poop board.it makes clean up even easier; Pop out; Scrap; Hose; Pop in. I realize of course this particular set up is not for every coop but in my small 8x4 salvaged metal shed with multi levels I have keep 24 birds in their all winter long with no run and no problems.

Winter months even easier flex vinyl flooring over compost bin DONE!

Easy peasy!.

 

[ctchopper]

Thank you - this helps a lot