Roost Logistics Question

[Stands With A Fiddle]

So.... My coop is actually a pigeon coop turned rabbit hutch turned storage shed turned chicken coop. From its incarnation as a chicken coop, it's got this little shelf that the pigeons could use to get to their little exit/entry holes.

The shelf is the highest point in the coop, and therefore a very lovely roost. They love it so much that I don't want to get rid of it, but it has a flaw. The chickens crap rather extensively on it, and so I'm scraping crap off every other day (I don't think it's healthy for them to roost in their crap -- correct me if I am wrong).

Has anyone had this problem? How have you corrected it? I'm

and

and

and

and

over the stupid thing.

 

[TexasVet]

I've got the same problem. You just have to get used to cleaning the poop off. I have two methods... either let them poop directly on the shelf and then scrape it off with a trowel, or put hay on the shelf so it pulls off as a solid sheet.

It's amazing how much chickens poop while asleep. Good thing humans don't do that!

Kathy, Bellville TX
www.ChickenTrackin.com

 

[sillybirds]

Could you replace the shelf with a narrower (e.g. 2 X 4) roost, then put a dropping board or tray under it?

 

[Stands With A Fiddle]

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I think that would be upsetting to them, because there would not be room for all of them on one roost if I did that. They are stacked in there pretty tight, and they love it.

Also, it's so high up that I had to have my dad build a ladder for them to get up there. Before they would have to try and fly up to land on it, but it was so close to the roof that there would be a lot of squawking hens falling to the floor during multiple landing attempts. It was actually pretty funny, but I felt bad for them.

 

[Kittymomma]

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How about stapling a piece of linoleum scrap to it? You would still have to clean it, but it would be easier.

 

[Stands With A Fiddle]

Thought about that. I think I'm going to try the straw thing first, as it seems like it would be the easiest.

I also have an overabundance of straw, since I overestimated how much to put into the coop when I was setting it up.

 

[Kittymomma]

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It's always nice to use what you have. Be carefull with straw in the coop though. It can become a home to mites and other pests...I think it is because it's hollow.