TSC coop maintenance mess

[NoProbLlama]

I have two different coops from TSC. A little red one (8 chicken size) bought last year and a walk-in big green one (10 chicken size) bought this year. Both need repainting and I am 1/2 done so they are not red & green really, LOL. The little red one has a design that has a roost above the ramp. My chickens are roosting on this roost instead of going inside where the boxes are with roosts above a clean out pan. It is a mess as the bedding cannot cover the ramp. I don't see another place for the roost or the ramp as the coop is cramped. How do you clean the ramp easily? There is a large amount of poop on the ramp every morning. I don't want to take down the roost as the coop is too small for the chickens that decided to live in this one. They could go into the big one if they wanted. The big green walk-in also has an opening in the coop nest area where the chickens roost instead of on the roost bars with the nest boxes. Again, a mess. Ideas?

 

[3riverschick]

Take out the Roosts causing the problems. See what the birds do. They may solve the roosting problem themselves. If not,
Reposition the roosts somewhere else if possible.

 

[jthornton]

Some photos of the insides would help a lot.

JT

 

[theoldchick]

Isn't it amazing how much poop chickens produce at night? You will either have to move the ramp or move the roost. Another option is to cover the ramp with cloth and remove the cover every morning. As mentioned, photos will help. Good luck!

 

[Dayrel]

I don't think removing the roost is a good idea. As the OP noted, it is the only non-coop roost available for use during the day.

I have a different model TSC coop, but the same problem. Fortunately, mine are good about going into the coop at night. I use a plastic cat litter scooper to scrape off the ramp as needed.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

A lot of people have modified tsc coops and one of the mods they have done is changed the roost around. See if you can reconfigure where the roost is. Or as suggested cover the ramp or maybe create a hammock to catch the poos.
I placed my chickens in the coop when I didn't want them to roost outside of the coop. By the 3rd day, they placed themselves into the coop.
I also close off the nest boxes that I don't want them sleeping in at night. I just put a thin piece of plywood over it. Sometimes I leave it off and they don't go to those boxes for at least a few days. But, once they are back there sleeping in them, I close them off again.

 

[aart]

Here's one of the best prefab coop modifications I've seen:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1134399/help-hens-roosting-in-nest-boxes/10#post_17749535