Poop maintenance for a small Purina type coop with raised floor

[mark9199]

I've built a version of the Purina coop with a raised floor made of 3/4" treated plywood (4' x 4'). For a coop of this size, with this type of floor, what would you recommend for poop maintenance (methods and materials)? My girls are moving in very soon! Expected flock size will be three to start and probably never more than six. I'm in a hot climate that doesn't freeze very often (southeast Texas). Thanks for all ideas in advance

 

[chfite]

I would use the deep litter method. Lay wood chips 4 inches deep, turn to keep the poop rotated, add chips as needed to cover and keep the smell down. A couple of times a year, remove it all and start anew.

Chris

 

[mpgo4th]

I have lots of waste straw. I put it down about 4 inches think on the floor of my 4X8 coop. One a week I just pull it out and put down fresh. They love to make nests in it.

 

[mark9199]

Well, for now I'm going with the deep litter method and see how it goes. Thanks for the help folks.

 

[bruce poertner]

Im getting more and more excited about getting some hens and getting something crackin!

 

[vlselz]

Well, for now I'm going with the deep litter method and see how it goes. Thanks for the help folks.

 

[mark9199]

Quote:
So far it has done pretty well. It is very hot and humid here in the summer. About 95 degrees just about every day, June through September. My initial concern was heat generation from the deep litter composting. After a lot of reading, it sounded like a raised wooden floor wouldn't allow the same level of composting that you would get with a dirt floor. After this summer's trial run, I agree with that. I didn't detect any heat generation but I didn't install a thermometer to really verify. Also, I only have 3 gals, the coop being 4' x 4' so there's not a whole lot of poop stuff going on. Most of the time they're outside. I am not using a poop board. I have about 3" of the large pine flakes over a sprinkling of DE on a linoleum floor. I turn the shavings over about once a week. I originally threw in a few pieces of scratch and they turned the shavings over for me. I stopped doing that because the pine flakes do generate a lot of dust (a health concern for the hens). Because the flakes are pretty cheap and I'm always looking for some good additives for my vegetable beds, my plan is to replace the shavings 2 or 3 times a year. I think I could go 6 months easily between clean outs. I swapped out shavings about 4 months ago. A quick and easy job. I brushed the shavings out the door onto a tarp and dragged the stuff over to my garden. I used a small portable vacuum to clean out the dust. Then refilled with a sprinkle of DE and a good layer (about 3”) of shavings. Total time maybe 30 minutes. Pros: I have little or no smell in the coop. Very easy maintenance (see above). Very low cost maintenance. The girls seem to like the pine flakes. I haven't had to add more flakes as time goes by (another indication that there's not any composting going on). Cons: The shavings generate a lot of dust, even when using the bigger flakes, which I highly recommend. It's a little messy... a bit will spill out the door once in a while. I hope this helps

 

[OScarlet]

I mixed DE, Sand and PDZ (mostly PDZ) and it is working out very well for us. I scoop poop most days and about once a week I sift it with a sifter my son made for me. It stays really clean that way and we use very little material.

 

[vlselz]

Quote:

Thanks SO much it does....I have the 4x4 and in the back under their roost I have a droppings "tray" filled with PDZ and i cat litter the poop out

, in the front half I have shavings...I will switch to all shavings and see how it does...hopefully it will keep it warmer for the Colorado winters too. Thanks again!

 

[vlselz]

I mixed DE, Sand and PDZ (mostly PDZ) and it is working out very well for us. I scoop poop most days and about once a week I sift it with a sifter my son made for me. It stays really clean that way and we use very little material.

This is how I do it now, but heard its warmer with shavings and since its winter and colorado snow is coming upon us I will try it. If its not as easy as my cat litter type method I will switch back...thanks everyone! =)