What is your coop maintenance routine?

[rosemarythyme]

My routine takes about 10 minutes a day to clean out the run and the coop. I have a sand/dirt floor in the run and I only use sand in the coop, shavings in the nest boxes.

Just wanted to say wow, what a pretty set up! I love the massive window and all the decor.

 

[aart]

Sand is clean, it filters, and I can add more as needed. It stays dry, so no moisture build up to worry about.

@Charlenesmom
What do you do any differently in winter?

 

[KRchicks]

Yeah your story seemed like over kill to me too!
My routine is, clean off dropping boards every day and replace pine shaving=5mins
Clean water daily with terra-cotta foot baths on hot days refreshed maybe twice a day depending on need.5mins
Weekly : add herbs to coop. 15 mins to cut and spread herbs. I use lavender, mint, rosemary and white sage in nest boxes, dropping boards and coop floor. Pests don’t like the herbs and I don’t have any pest issues. I also use a very diluted disinfectant on roosting bars. 5 mins
6 mos: spring and fall, clean out entire coop, clean with very diluted cleaner ( mr clean liquid or dawn dish soap) replace shavings and herbs.
We have goats too and they have a similar kinda schedule.
Hope that helps you some.

I love your idea of adding herbs to the coop...do you add them fresh or dried?

 

[Quailerino]

My routine takes about 10 minutes a day to clean out the run and the coop. I have a sand/dirt floor in the run and I only use sand in the coop, shavings in the nest boxes. Sand/dirt is a breeze to clean I use a long handled metal cat litter scoop.
The droppings are sifted out quickly and the sand remains clean and dry. I found shaving too hard to use, the droppings stick to them and make it impossible to get them out. I personally don’t like the deep litter method which some people use. My coop is clean as the droppings land on the sand only under the roost bars and I have ample clean out doors so reaching them is easy. I will pick up any new droppings that I see on the floor area of the run as the day goes on if I see them. I don’t have any trouble with flies as I don’t have droppings piling up.
Sand is clean, it filters, and I can add more as needed. It stays dry, so no moisture build up to worry about. Once a month or so I wipe down the walls inside to coop to remove drips on the walls. I purposely painted the walls inside my coop to make it easier to clean, wiping and cleaning a painted surface is easier than trying to wipe a plain plywood surface.
when the weather is hot I clean the waterers thoroughly with just a tablespoon or so of bleach to kill the algae then flush out good with the hose. In winter I use a heated waterer and the water stays clean in between my having to add more.
once a week or so it takes a bit longer if I have to add food to the feeders, fresh cabbage in the hangers, etc but overall only about 10 minutes a day, and when I have extra time I do a few other “chicken chores”. I am not a slave to my girls but they are well cared for, spoiled even, and it doesn’t take me much time.
As I mentioned, I only have shavings in the nest boxes, they never soil in them, so I don’t have to clean them, I only add more when it gets kicked out and they need more.
Enjoy your girls and make your “cleaning” time an opportunity to get to know them and hang with them. I love hanging out with mine, though I don’t always have the time, but on those days we always find much to chat about...lolView attachment 2271562View attachment 2271551View attachment 2271552View attachment 2271553View attachment 2271554View attachment 2271555View attachment 2271556View attachment 2271557View attachment 2271558View attachment 2271560View attachment 2271561View attachment 2271562View attachment 2271563

Damn...your chickens have adirondack chairs...and pendant lamps...and window treatments. Your chickens are living the dream and i'm jealous.

 

[nancylee679]

I live in south Texas. Very hot and humid. I found out quickly that deep litter is not for me.

 

[chickinlittles]

I love your idea of adding herbs to the coop...do you add them fresh or dried?

I cut them fresh as the oils are stronger and to a better job on the pests. I don’t Add enough to cause any mold issues especially since it’s so dry where er live . I just go out to the garden and harvest as I need.

 

[drinkoj]

WOW! This thread is still alive. Congratz

 

[rotagen]

My coop maintenance routine will soon be much easier as I just finished the new coop with wire bottom. Cage wire with 1 inch square, 2-3 feet above ground (coop on posts). When I was a kid the poultry book I had said this was the only way to go, so I did it. And the chickens were healthy for years. Now I am in a somewhat colder climate so I have cut some thick plywood to place over the wire in the winter. ONe huge advantage is you have no bedding to rob the soil of nitrogen when you use the droppings as fertilizer, not to mention the huge savings in bedding cost.

Actually I'm sure the flock would be fine in the winter and appreciate the fresh air, but they'd eat more food perhaps to keep warm. Cold air sinks.

 

[Malquid]

Chickens are extremely forgiving to the point of if you are extremely lazy and don’t care to interact with them. You could be as negligent as making sure they food and water and that’s it. I doubt anyone here condones that but they will survive.

the other end of the spectrum is the person you are describing which is OCD.

in the end i think coop maintenance reflects your personality. Since you collect eggs daily, make a mental note of the condition and maybe twice a week or weekly, do some routine maintaining. It’s supposed to be easy and fun.

 

[Iheartbirds]

Whew! That's kind of a relief. I was thinking what did I get into here?! My goats eat pasture or grass hay which is super easy compared to grower feed, layer feed, oyster shells, grit, pellets, crumbles, fermentation, ACV drama with these chickens. And the idea of lice/mites strikes fear in me. In the 5 years that I've had my goats I have never had a single parasite problem. Our vet doesn't even recommend worming them unless they show signs of needing to be wormed. Maybe I will reduce the deep coop cleaning to once a month. That's manageable for me.

Have you researched diatomaceous earth for parasite control? I only have 2 girls who free range, so their coop is only used for sleeping and egg laying. I use bermuda hay all through it, with pine shavings just in their night pooping spots. I pick the poop up from just their sleeping area with the pine shavings every morning and then replace the shavings. Every few days I dust the coop with diatomaceous earth and sprinkle a tiny bit in their food every few feedings. It's a natural parasite control. I sprinkle some in their dust bathing spots. I never see any indication that they have any parasite problems. If you try it, be sure to buy the food grade. It's even beneficial for humans. I take a little pinch in juice every once in a while. CAUTION! It isn't toxic, but it works by absorbing moisture, which destroys the parasites. So, be very careful not to breathe it in.