Roost and poop board design

[Sally PB]

I didn't think of my back when I made my version of a poop board. I may rethink my idea... not getting younger.

Anyway, I have a poop mat, which is a poop board that is on the bedding on the floor of the coop. It catches almost all the poop, doesn't take any valuable real estate out of the coop, is easy to clean, and was free. It's three tote lids with PDZ on them. Well, the lids were free, but not the PDZ.

I just lowered the roost about 8 inches to keep the chickens lower than the cross draft from the ventilation. It's about 2 1/2 feet above the floor, which also makes it an easier landing when they hop/fly down. I had a ramp up to the roost when it was higher, but one of the pullets liked to sleep on the roost with her butt on the ramp. You can guess what happened with her poop.

 

[Tervish]

I am a bit overdue for an update on my coop.

I ended up with a poop board 21" off the ground, 22 3/4" to the top of the lip. The front roost is about 8" above the board, and the back roost is 1.5 inches taller. The board does slide on a track, and the roosts lift up easily, so there is no problem scooping the entire board. I could see if I had to clean up after a lot of birds it might be too low to be comfortable, but with just 6 hens it is okay. I can also slide the board to the front, and stand on a lower step outside to scoop, effectively raising the board for less bending.

I did not use linoleum to line it, just used porch and floor paint.

I had been concerned that there might be dust bath attempts in the PDZ, but the roosts are low enough to discourage that.

I made a mistake in getting impatient to be finished. I used the plywood I had on hand to make the poop board and the board is not quite deep enough front to back . There is only about 4" from the edge of the front roost to the end of the board. So any chicken that roosts "backwards" may poop on the board lip and onto the floor. And OF COURSE they like to do just that! Photo proof attached. Jerks.

At some point I'll probably try to add a board extension. Overall though, I am incredibly pleased with the poop board, it catches the vast majority of the poop and is so easy to clean. I can't imagine all that mess on the floor.

Now if they would actually start laying some eggs that would be cool...

 

[aart]

Love that dark blue!!

How's the roofs and gutter working?

 

[Tervish]

How's the roofs and gutter working?

It was a little awkward putting the run next to the coop instead of "in line" with the roof, but we wanted to see into the run from the front so we did it as you see. The gutter runs the length of the run (16') and drains to the back that slopes away from the coop and run. We have added a gutter to the other long side of the run too, since roof runoff was getting blown into the coop in large uncomfortable drops. That gutter also drains to the back. We are just getting into the rainy season but so far so good.

 

[Missceegee]

I started with 30" drop board at 18" off the floor; two 10' roosts 12" above the DB at the same height, 12" from back wall/each other; 6 inches of DB left on front. I have a lip, use PDZ and clean every morning.

DB was WAY too low, very hard on the back for cleaning.

I moved everything up: DB now at 30" off floor, roosts 8 inches above that. More recently I added a third roost at the same height as the others and 12" of DB for a total of 42" width, 3rd roost leaves the same 6" of DB in front.

I started with 7 birds, then added 5, now have 30.

You seem to have lots of headroom in the coop. Move your drop board up, the difference it makes on your back is HUGE and one cleans the DB every day!!! 8" between roost and DB is fine, one adjusts their approach for pickup, 6" is too short and would be awkward.

I rarely have droppings that hit the lip and almost never hit the floor; 6" in front works just fine.

Could you share a picture of your roosts and poop boards?

 

[Ted Brown]

Could you share a picture of your roosts and poop boards?

 

[Ted Brown]

 

[Missceegee]

View attachment 3095477View attachment 3095476

Thank you! I have 30 hens and a roo in my 38’x10’ open coop/run. I’ve been doing deep litter but am considering boards. Helps to see a board option with lots of birds. One question, how often do you clean or retrieve eggs laid beneath?

 

[Ted Brown]

...
One question, how often do you clean or retrieve eggs laid beneath?

Never. My hens always use the 4 nest boxes to lay. Occasionally there will be a lineup or a squabble but nothing significant.

I clean the coop once per year and even then the bedding is "clean". The majority of waste goes on the drop boards, the rest either in the coop or run (pop door is open 24/7). When I clean out the coop it is very dusty, @aart informed me that the dust is dried waste.

 

[Missceegee]

Never. My hens always use the 4 nest boxes to lay. Occasionally there will be a lineup or a squabble but nothing significant.

I clean the coop once per year and even then the bedding is "clean". The majority of waste goes on the drop boards, the rest either in the coop or run (pop door is open 24/7). When I clean out the coop it is very dusty, @aart informed me that the dust is dried waste.

Hubby and I built the new roosts and poop boards in an L shape. Few extra minutes scooping with a reptile scoop each morning has meant a much cleaner floor. They poop about a gallon per night.

I was thinking on how to reinstall my community nest boxes. They used to be roll out but I didn’t want to cut a hole in the side again so I switched them. I installed the large one (for 40 hens per manufacturer) about 20-22” above the ground first. Still was getting majority of eggs on the ground. So yesterday I made 6 milk crate ones with a stand. They took to this right away and have laid at least 15 eggs there today. I then made a short stand for the other community nest box (for 20 hens) today. I just put that one in. So far today only one egg on the ground and that was outside which was weird. Here’s hoping the egg eater(s) choose the roll out boxes and everyone chooses a nest.