Sand litter users - this thread is for you

[jlwquilter]

My main concern would be of the tines would hold up under weight of sand and also scooping/digging into sand. Otherwise worth a try!

I asked before but I’ll ask again
Why are you trying to sift all the poop out? What’s the issue if a small amount stays behind and get buried in to the sand?

 

[TJAnonymous]

My main concern would be of the tines would hold up under weight of sand and also scooping/digging into sand. Otherwise worth a try!

I asked before but I’ll ask again
Why are you trying to sift all the poop out? What’s the issue if a small amount stays behind and get buried in to the sand?

I inevitably do leave a small amount behind... But the metal sifter I have now leaves behind anything dime sized or smaller. Even that sized poop tends to build up after a few weeks and my sifter isn't great at getting it. I have a plastic sifter that gets everything but it is a pain to use it because each scoop takes 30 seconds to a minute to sift out the clean sand.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Now that I look like I lost a fight with a mountain lion.... My experiment is complete! Not very pretty but functional in theory.... Can't wait to try it out tomorrow....

 

[jlwquilter]

Good luck! Let’s us know!

 

[aart]

Not very pretty but functional in theory

I like the way you bundled the tines.

 

[TJAnonymous]

I like the way you bundled the tines.

I needed to do something to make it sturdier.... It was a cheap, off-brand scoop from Amazon. The tines are pretty flimsy. If I were to use this for my horses, they'd probably break the first scoop. Luckily chicken poop isn't nearly as heavy as horse poop.....

I do like that it has a handle so I don't have to bend over.... I won't get a chance to try it out until later this afternoon but I'm cautiously optimistic....

 

[raingarden]

I have no experience scooping poop. But, try searching for images of "mole crab rake" or "sand flea rake" or "mole crab scoop" and see if you get any ideas.

 

[TJAnonymous]

I have no experience scooping poop. But, try searching for images of "mole crab rake" or "sand flea rake" or "mole crab scoop" and see if you get any ideas.

I was watching something on TV yesterday and they were using a sand comb/rake to look for stuff on the beach. I thought that would probably be a really useful tool to use for this purpose as well.... I think it's the same thing you are referring to?

 

[TJAnonymous]

OK.... Here's the results of my experiment!

Previous time to clean coop - 1.5 to 2 hrs
Time with chicken poop scoop - 30 minutes. That includes me taking time to figure out different ways of scooping & sifting.

I let the coop floor get good & dirty so I could experience a worst case scenario.
BEFORE scooping -

AFTER scooping -

Random observations -

1. I really need a solid piece on the end because these tines are so flimsy that they don't "dig" into the sand very well at all.
2. I had to use a gravel rake to pull poop out of nooks & crannies and away from the wall. Again, if I had sturdier tines or a shovel edge on the end, this wouldn't be a problem.
3. The handle on the shaft became key. Without it, it would have been harder to shake the rake easily to sift the sand through.
4. Could be useful to have a slide down cover to keep stray pieces of poop and material from jumping out of the scoop as you sift it.

Overall experience - a Solid B+ but could still use some improvements.