Shavings in your coop? Cleaning sand?

[XscoreX]

Thanks guys, looks like I will need to trim my flock down by a good bit. I have room I could just build a bigger run for them. Would a 6 x 10 addition be big enough you think? If I could protect them from hawks I would let them run wild all day

 

[Kasilofchrisn]

My coop is 4'x8' and with my chicken math of 4 square foot per bird houses a maximum of 8 birds.
My run is oversized at 8'x25' but a good rule of thumb is 10 square foot per bird in the run.
I use pine shavings in the coop cleaned twice a month.
I use wood chips in my run.
My dad loaned me his small wood chipper so I made my own from alder brush on my property.
You definetly need a bigger coop and run.

 

[aart]

Here is a picture of my coop

That coop is not large enough for 10 chickens, especially in a harsh winter climate.

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.

-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.

-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.

-Runs have semi-deep litter, never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials.

-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 4 years.

 

[NNYchick]

Thanks guys, looks like I will need to trim my flock down by a good bit. I have room I could just build a bigger run for them. Would a 6 x 10 addition be big enough you think? If I could protect them from hawks I would let them run wild all day

I found this great article. It gives you general guidelines for space but also other considerations when planning your space and flock maintenance. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-much-room-do-chickens-need.66180/

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Your coop looks about the same size as mine. I have four chicks that are 9 weeks and I can already see that it is going to just fit them. Ours said it would hold 8 to 10 chickens, also. We figured 4 would have plenty of room, but nope. Ours has 3 nesting boxes and we are debating making that space part of the coop and adding on nesting box space to the other end, and extending the run. Eventually we are going to build a new one.