what do you use in your run/coop to keep it clean??? help!

[mommy25babies]

I've read a lot about sand..and am wondering if that's what should do. I live in florida its our rainy season and we have 4 roaming daily. They are in the run only when we are not home or my dog is out. Otherwise their scratching the yard. Currently we have a dirt floor and we sprinkle d.e. liberally and some sprinkling of shavings. I am out with my dust pan one in morning afternoon and a final sweep before they retire to the coop. I'm wondering if there's a better material to use. The only hay I use is in the nesting boxes as it rots and attracts flies here...yuck.

Also.. any suggestions for keeping coop clean. I clean daily in the morning as there's lots of poop in there.. but I'm finding I waste a lot of shavings trying to pick through to get the poop. I compost what I remove. I've included pictures to help you have a better idea. I also clean weekly by raking it out and fresh shavings d.e. and clean out coop weekly (every sunday) monthly I rake and clean the entire coop run out and wash it down with water vinegar solution air dry and replace with fresh hay (nesting boxes) and shavings and d.e.
While its hot ..I provide chicken a/c and a clip on fan in there up in the ceiling area to chase out hot air by perches.
Anything I'm missing..or suggestions?? Thanks.

 

[farmgirlroots]

A few inches deep of sand and a kitty litter scoop would probably make your life a lot easier. I use sand in coop and run and won't go back to anything else.

 

[mommy25babies]

how often do you replace that sand? How do u sanitize or u don't? Thx

 

[jetdog]

I clean mine with a cat litter scoop and add DE mixed with sweet pdz, but I also have a roof over the run so it doesn't get wet at all makes it a lot easier to clean with no clumps.