Poop screen?

[Jenna_Grace]

My coop has a large poop box under the roost which is covered with wire mesh to keep the chickens out. I’m currently using a 1x1 mesh but poop and feathers are getting caught. I think I want to replace the mesh with dowels and I’m wondering how far apart I can space them and still keep the chickens out of the poop box?

 

[Isadora]

Would you post pictures of it?

 

[AnnPann]

I'm curious about the need to keep the chickens out of this area? Like a lot of coops, I have a poop tray but the chickens can walk on it and it's not an issue that they can access the space. Are you using that area for something else other than droppings?

 

[Jenna_Grace]

My coop has a large poop box under the roost which is covered with wire mesh to keep the chickens out. I’m currently using a 1x1 mesh but poop and feathers are getting caught. I think I want to replace the mesh with dowels and I’m wondering how far apart I can space them and still keep the chickens out of the poop box?

 

[Jenna_Grace]

I'm curious about the need to keep the chickens out of this area? Like a lot of coops, I have a poop tray but the chickens can walk on it and it's not an issue that they can access the space. Are you using that area for something else other than droppings?

 

[Jenna_Grace]

I guess I could leave the top uncovered….. but I’ve been hoping to keep their feet as clean as possible. In addition I have exterior access to the poop box and can scoop it without chickens escaping right now.

 

[AnnPann]

I would recommend just putting a scrap board over it, where you have the HWC, and putting a thin layer of PDZ on top of the board. The PDZ will dry out the poop and make it easy to clean - just scoop the poop with a cat litter scoop. My hens will sometimes step in the poop on the tray (not often though), but it's not any different than what they come in contact with in their run.