VACATION -- COOP & RUN MAINTENANCE QUESTION

[evitachu]

Hi BYC-ers,
Most of the vacation answers here are about the feeder and waterer. Plenty of answers, I got it.

But what about the cleaning routine?
Some articles from Backyard Poultry Magazine and aome other sites mention about cleaning coop and run BEFORE vacation, and nothing else regarding the duration of the vacation.

I would imagine, someone who is not experienced with chickens would feel grossed out by chicken poops. Even my own husband is grossed out every time I clean poop on the pan with bare hand. Let alone raking the run daily (doesn't take long, but it is still a chore), and deal with more sand sifting.

What do you do about the coop & run maintenance during your vacation? Would it be OK leaving the coop filthy with poop for 2 weeks? My coop is little. I house 4 bantams in a coop. But even so, daily amount is ... Quite some deposits I got!
My chickens don't free range, the play in the run. So they dust bath in the run too. They always leave a spot clean for dust bath.... But leaving it uncleaned for 2 weeks sounds gross.... No?

Please help with ideas and your experience!

 

[Folly's place]

That's why I use deep litter, and have a larger walk-in coop and run. No daily cleaning! Could you add semi-deep litter shavings while you are away? Some scratch in there daily will get the birds stirring it up so it won't be bad at all. Or find a very kind person who will continue your husbandry, WEARING GLOVES for safety's sake. Mary

 

[sunflour]

IMO if you are having to clean the run and coop daily, you really should be thinking about expanding the space when you have time and resources.

I only have to sift poop from the coop weekly with full sized hens. And rake/sift areas in the run occasionally, except during molt, and have to remove feathers more often.

If you are having issues with smell, try the PDZ, it keeps down moisture and smells.

But for the upcoming vacation, If you can't locate someone willing to remove poop while you are away, add the PDZ, and make sure the coop has plenty of ventilation. Have the chicken sitter give them only feed, no treats. Treats make more poop than their feed does. I don't think your flock will be as worried about it as you are.

Do make sure to introduce the sitter to the flock, they need to recognize the person so they won't be stressed when a stranger comes around. I think someone different cleaning the coop and raking the run would add more stress to them.

 

[RonP]

I also have deep litter in the coop and run.

My routine is monthly (simple coop fluff), yearly (replace coop shavings 10 - 12 inches), and never clean out run (very deep litter - 18-24 inches wood chips and fall leaves)...

 

[aart]

Hi BYC-ers,
Most of the vacation answers here are about the feeder and waterer. Plenty of answers, I got it.

But what about the cleaning routine?
Some articles from Backyard Poultry Magazine and aome other sites mention about cleaning coop and run BEFORE vacation, and nothing else regarding the duration of the vacation.

I would imagine, someone who is not experienced with chickens would feel grossed out by chicken poops. Even my own husband is grossed out every time I clean poop on the pan with bare hand. Let alone raking the run daily (doesn't take long, but it is still a chore), and deal with more sand sifting.

What do you do about the coop & run maintenance during your vacation? Would it be OK leaving the coop filthy with poop for 2 weeks? My coop is little. I house 4 bantams in a coop. But even so, daily amount is ... Quite some deposits I got!
My chickens don't free range, the play in the run. So they dust bath in the run too. They always leave a spot clean for dust bath.... But leaving it uncleaned for 2 weeks sounds gross.... No?

Please help with ideas and your experience!

If you think 4 bantams make quite the deposit......lol....sorry.

Can you post pic of your coop inside and run area?

I think most folks with livestock don't go on vacation, without hiring/having someone with experience to know how to take care of the animals in question.
Cleaning aside, I wouldn't leave the care of my birds with someone who wasn't well versed in their behaviors to know if something is wrong and more importantly knows what to do about it.

 

[Folly's place]

We have horses, cattle, chickens, dogs, and cats. We also have nearby friends with critters, and family with dogs and cats. When we vacation (not that often!) or when our friends travel, we have backup available. We use the same veterinarians for the horses, and everyone knows who to call, and when, for emergencies. A few years ago, when I was 'pet sitting' for horses and dogs at one friend's house, I took her old gelding to the vet school on Thanksgiving after dinner for an eye injury. "Sorry, I've got to eat and run!" It all worked out fine, but we do try to have cell phone access if at all possible now. Mary

 

[NewChicKMom2014]

We have horses, cattle, chickens, dogs, and cats. We also have nearby friends with critters, and family with dogs and cats. When we vacation (not that often!) or when our friends travel, we have backup available. We use the same veterinarians for the horses, and everyone knows who to call, and when, for emergencies. A few years ago, when I was 'pet sitting' for horses and dogs at one friend's house, I took her old gelding to the vet school on Thanksgiving after dinner for an eye injury. "Sorry, I've got to eat and run!" It all worked out fine, but we do try to have cell phone access if at all possible now. Mary

I agree!

Even if we are going to be gone a for an entire day and not back in time for 'lock down' as we put it. We have a neighbor or family put our birds to bed and also check on a couple times during the day. But we have to because we have coyotes in our area that have been known to get into runs, so they have to be in coops at night.

 

[donrae]

Hire a pet sitter for your vacation. Have them come out daily and keep your coop clean. Provide a tool or box of gloves for them to use. I'll touch herbivore poop with my bare hands, but not omnivore or carnivore.