Poop in Coop!

[Ebal]

So I have an 8x8 coop and a 10 x 24 fenced run (1/2 covered with metal roofing and other half with chicken wire roof. have nesting boxes outside of coop under metal roof section of run. Hens lay consistently in the nesting boxes. Run is just dirt with some straw added occasionally. Coop bedding is pine shavings; poop board and floor. Hens allowed out of run to range daily from late afternoon till dark- 4-5 hours daily; they come back in at dark and I latch it so they are in the coup/run from dark till the next late afternoon. Food and water is in the covered half of run

Observation: Hens seem to want to spend 80% or their time during daytime, scratching around in the coop bedding. In and out to feed and lay, but most time in coop....hence 80% OF daytime Poop in Coop.

Would you consider putting a door on the opening from coop to run; and close it off in the AM, preventing access to coop during the day?

 

[Percheron chick]

Make the run more interesting to scratch around in. Build a compost pit in the run. Just turn the run into a fun zone. Leaves, wood chips, compost, grass clippings and weeds. Then throw some scratch on top and turn them loose.

 

[Mrs. K]

I get a lot of poop in my coop - under the roosts. But I don't do the poop board thing.

I would add some clutter to your run? A lot of runs I see here are just 2 dimensional flat rectangles. I have roosts, hideouts, wind shelters in the run. So take a good look at your run. And how is the shade in your run? Shade can change dramatically through out the day. I tend to think over head, but the long afternoons, a little shade on the west can really help.

When you clean out your coop, just throw that old bedding into the run. I bed my run pretty deeply, with bard spots. This summer I will use the old bedding for mulch in my garden, (supposedly weed seed free after being with the chickens is the theory, but I admit, not a lot of proof to that).

But chickens are so habitual, that I don't think it would hurt to lock them out of the coop during the day for a couple of days. See if you can change the habit. When they are getting into things I don't want, that is what I do, block it off.

Mrs K

 

[BurbCoop]

Agree with the above recommendations. Give them piles, roosts, and things to dig and scratch at. Every so often, move it all around.

We recently had an extra bale of straw, threw that in the run and it kept them busy for weeks. I would occasionally move it to a different location. Eventually they had down to nothing.

When I mow or rake leaves, I give them piles. They even like piles of snow as they melt.

Wood piles attract bugs for them to eat and something to stand on.

Kiddie pool with fresh dirt, the greatest thing ever

Our hens rarely go in the coop throughout the day, pretty much only to lay.

 

[Silexian]

I added roost out in my runs. I also keep fresh chips/mulch for them to scratch around in. They still scratch around some in the corn cob bedding in the coop. They mainly stay out in the run though.

 

[aart]

Run is just dirt with some straw added occasionally.

Post some pics of run.
Does it have shade?
Any predators lurking?
...and the aforementioned 'clutter' would help.

 

[SBChickenLady]

Agree with the above recommendations. Give them piles, roosts, and things to dig and scratch at. Every so often, move it all around.

We recently had an extra bale of straw, threw that in the run and it kept them busy for weeks. I would occasionally move it to a different location. Eventually they had down to nothing.

When I mow or rake leaves, I give them piles. They even like piles of snow as they melt.

Wood piles attract bugs for them to eat and something to stand on.

Kiddie pool with fresh dirt, the greatest thing ever

Our hens rarely go in the coop throughout the day, pretty much only to lay.

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Your flock looks almost exactly like my original group of four girls! Our first set of four was RIR, Americana, Black Australorp, and a Buff Orpington! Had to share as this was so fun to see! Cheers!

 

[BurbCoop]

Your flock looks almost exactly like my original group of four girls! Our first set of four was RIR, Americana, Black Australorp, and a Buff Orpington! Had to share as this was so fun to see! Cheers!

Ha! That's awesome! Your flock definitely looks a little familiar

We originally started out with three Buff Orps (the ones in my profile pic). We have two newer EE/mixes that were not in the pics posted. I'm all about mixing it up these days with a colorful variety of hens.

I really like your Americana/EE. Very cool feather color and pattern.

 

[SBChickenLady]

Ha! That's awesome! Your flock definitely looks a little familiar

We originally started out with three Buff Orps (the ones in my profile pic). We have two newer EE/mixes that were not in the pics posted. I'm all about mixing it up these days with a colorful variety of hens.

I really like your Americana/EE. Very cool feather color and pattern.

Awe thank you, your girls are gorgeous as well! We are getting ready to introduce three newbies to the flock, SLW, Cuckoo Maran, and a Buff Brahma. I totally agree, I love exploring the variety of breeds. They all have such amazing personalities. All the best!

 

[BurbCoop]

Awe thank you, your girls are gorgeous as well! We are getting ready to introduce three newbies to the flock, SLW, Cuckoo Maran, and a Buff Brahma. I totally agree, I love exploring the variety of breeds. They all have such amazing personalities. All the best!

Ooh, a SLW, or a mix of, is on my short list as well