When/how to clean out?

[Thancock760]

My girls have been outside about a month now, some of their coop litter falls out into the run all the time, and I haven’t changed out their coop litter yet. The run is 10x10 but has only a little ancillary litter in it. Do I change/throw out the run “litter” (picture)? Can I scoop the coop litter into the run? Am a first time chicken mom and trying to keep things clean and healthy.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I wouldn't clean it out. If you think that it's getting dirty, you can add a bunch of leaves to it. They'll love those! Be entertaining to them too. Through in a handful of treats to get them really scratching around.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Depends on your plan on managing the run litter, and what type of litter you're using.

Example: For me, I get a lot of rain, so improving drainage in my run to avoid mud and odor is a priority. So my run is deep litter while my coop has a combination of wood chips and hemp.

When I clean out the coop (once a year, as I have a larger coop that stays dry), all the coop bedding goes straight into the run and becomes part of the deep litter. So the two different litter systems work hand in hand.

 

[3KillerBs]

This is my article on Deep Bedding in the coop: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/using-deep-bedding-in-a-small-coop.76343/

I use Deep Litter in my run, with a mix of whatever dry organic material comes to hand. Because I'm in the southeastern US I have free access to mountains of pine straw. Other areas have local favorites.