Roost/poop tray

[amk122284]

I am brand new to this and this might be just a ridiculous idea. We are setting up our first coop. We are converting a section of our 2nd garage into a coop, it is going to be a 12x7 with a half way point lock off (chicken wire wall and door). Right now we will only have 6 chickens but um not ruling out potentially more in the future because of chicken math and I want to have the option to open up whether it be to extreme weather and them needing more space for a few days or just more chickens. My thought was in regards to the roost. I see people using poop pans to catch the over night poos. Is it necessary to fill/cover it with some sort of litter or is it ok to leave it just the bare trays with an exterior drawer that I can just pull out and spray out daily. Is this a bad idea? The roost plan is a straight 6 foot, so it will be several pans.

 

[DobieLover]

I have lips on my poop boards and put Sweet PDZ in them. They get scooped each morning into an old cat litter bucket.
I wouldn't do trays with washing for two reasons: 1- chickens poop a lot overnight and I wouldn't want to have to handle the trays before work in the morning and hose them off and 2- chicken poop WREAKS when wet. And what will you do in the winter when the poop freezes to the trays?

 

[amk122284]

I have lips on my poop boards and put Sweet PDZ in them. They get scooped each morning into an old cat litter bucket.
I wouldn't do trays with washing for two reasons: 1- chickens poop a lot overnight and I wouldn't want to have to handle the trays before work in the morning and hose them off and 2- chicken poop WREAKS when wet. And what will you do in the winter when the poop freezes to the trays?
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Both very valid points but not really a relevant issue for our set up. The coop is fully insulated with climate control so we wont have it drop below freezing really unless we purposely allow it or there is a freak hiccup. Also I do not work outside of the home. BUT I looked up the sweet pdz and am very intrigued! I think I might try that! I'm assuming its safe for chickens to come into contact with?

 

[2Old2Crow]

PDZ imo is the only way to go. My poop tray is on rollers which rest on a small track (Board). Wheel it out to the door, clean it, push it back. 2-3 minute job.

 

[aart]

The coop is fully insulated with climate control so we wont have it drop below freezing really unless we purposely allow it or there is a freak hiccup.

Really?!
What are your plans for filtering the air...both particulate and ammonia??

 

[DobieLover]

Both very valid points but not really a relevant issue for our set up. The coop is fully insulated with climate control so we wont have it drop below freezing really unless we purposely allow it or there is a freak hiccup. Also I do not work outside of the home. BUT I looked up the sweet pdz and am very intrigued! I think I might try that! I'm assuming its safe for chickens to come into contact with?

Mine are in contact with it daily.
Keeping chickens in a climate controlled environment is not a good idea at all. They need copious amounts of fresh air and do not need supplemental heat unless living in the most extreme climates.

 

[amk122284]

Do you think my chickens are never going to be allowed outside, do you actually believe there is no ventilation, no windows no doors? Just because its climate controlled doesnt mean it's going to kept at 70 degrees. It will only be used to keep things from freezing inside....poop, water, chickens. Chickens are more productive if they are kept above freezing temps when possible. Commercial poultry barns are climate controlled with THOUSANDS of birds packed in. My husband does HVAC for a living, he has taken appropriate steps to make sure we are set up for more than adequate air quality and filteration. They will have access to the outside from sunrise to sunset, they will have 2 - 37x57 double hung windows, on top of what my husband has set up in that building.