Preventing Messy Feet in an Omlet Run

[TheUrbanUndertaking]

Hey there! We have an Omlet Eglu Pro that we've been loving so far for our 6 girls, but I'm starting to notice some very messy feet. This is my first time having chickens, and after doing gobs of research I figured we'd be all set with just having pine shavings in the coop trays and letting them roam on the grass below, but the mess has me concerned I could be doing more.

I planned to move the coop between two spots (small yard), since we have the mobile version. I rake the grass about once a week to keep waste from piling up, but I'm wondering if there's anything I can do to make the coop a bit cleaner. I know they're chickens and I know they'll get dirty, I just don't want them to be uncomfortable or have health issues if there's a solution I haven't found yet.

We're also planning to get the larger, walk-in run, but that would make it stationary, so we'll be dealing with a similar problem. I've considered adding pine shavings, but not sure if they'd just get kicked out and make a different mess. I've also thought about sprinkling DE in the run.

If this is normal and I just need to keep an eye on their feet to make sure they don't get too dirty, that's perfectly fine as well, but any ideas or advice would be really appreciated!

 

[nuthatched]

Do you mean mud or poop?
Skip the de.

 

[TheUrbanUndertaking]

Do you mean mud or poop?
Skip the de.

Mostly poop. The run is covered so it doesn't get too muddy, but the torn up grass and poop sort of combine and crust to their feet.

 

[nuthatched]

Mostly poop. The run is covered so it doesn't get too muddy, but the torn up grass and poop sort of combine and crust to their feet.

It's just the way prefab coops are, not a lot of room for sanitary purposes. Maybe try sand you can scoop?

 

[thecatumbrella]

If their feet are getting caked in poop from the run, it's going to track all over the Omlet plastic ladder and roosting tray. Not much you can do about that other than keep the run meticulously clean. Are your birds feather footed?

 

[OnlySympathy]

Hey there! We have an Omlet Eglu Pro that we've been loving so far for our 6 girls, but I'm starting to notice some very messy feet. This is my first time having chickens, and after doing gobs of research I figured we'd be all set with just having pine shavings in the coop trays and letting them roam on the grass below, but the mess has me concerned I could be doing more.

I planned to move the coop between two spots (small yard), since we have the mobile version. I rake the grass about once a week to keep waste from piling up, but I'm wondering if there's anything I can do to make the coop a bit cleaner. I know they're chickens and I know they'll get dirty, I just don't want them to be uncomfortable or have health issues if there's a solution I haven't found yet.

We're also planning to get the larger, walk-in run, but that would make it stationary, so we'll be dealing with a similar problem. I've considered adding pine shavings, but not sure if they'd just get kicked out and make a different mess. I've also thought about sprinkling DE in the run.

If this is normal and I just need to keep an eye on their feet to make sure they don't get too dirty, that's perfectly fine as well, but any ideas or advice would be really appreciated!

How big is the run? It sounds like it may be from it being too small. Using DE would not do anything, it really doesn’t do anything as is and wouldn’t help in this situation at all. I personally would use a deep layer of mulch, I prefer mini pine bark nuggets. It should help a decent amount with keeping their feet cleaner

 

[TheUrbanUndertaking]

If their feet are getting caked in poop from the run, it's going to track all over the Omlet plastic ladder and roosting tray. Not much you can do about that other than keep the run meticulously clean. Are your birds feather footed?

It does track a bit, but overall not too bad on any of the coop itself. We cleaned it for the first time last weekend and I was surprised with how little mess there was.

We have one Salmon Faverolle, all the others are clean legged.

 

[TheUrbanUndertaking]

How big is the run? It sounds like it may be from it being too small. Using DE would not do anything, it really doesn’t do anything as is and wouldn’t help in this situation at all. I personally would use a deep layer of mulch, I prefer mini pine bark nuggets. It should help a decent amount with keeping their feet cleaner

It's roughly 7' x 7', and we definitely do want to get something a bit bigger. Just to give them (and us) more space to move around.

Thank you for the material suggestions!

 

[OnlySympathy]

It's roughly 7' x 7'

That is most likely the reason for it. That is really only big enough for 4 birds. The minimum recommended size for a run is 10 sq ft per bird but 12-15 is a lot better.

and we definitely do want to get something a bit bigger. Just to give them (and us) more space to move around.

I’m not sure what you are looking for budget and looks wise but something like a hoop coop would work well as a run. They are pretty inexpensive and easy to make. They will also last longer and if made right will be more predator proof than any prefab run you can buy