Quote:
I'll have to do that...though it takes some time for my dial up to load pics and it seems silly to take pics of a old feeder, watering pan and feed bin. How about I describe my setup?
I have an ancient hen house coop that is about 8 ft. X 15 ft. My roosts are recycled bean poles and old branches set about 4 1/2 ft off the floor. I use deep litter all year round, so poop is not an issue for me....it falls into the deep litter, my chickens keep it mixed in and it slowly decomposes into the litter. No bad smells, no flies....its pleasant and woody smelling. I also use shredded paper from the office....dump the bag in a spreading motion, chickens mix it in. My coop has one whole wall of windows and the opposite wall has a large one as well. I clean out deep litter twice a year. It doesn't have a bad smell and is light and fluffy.
Feed bin consists of a metal garbage can located right beside the feed trough. Open can, bend over, scoop several scoops into the trough. The trough is wrapped in welded wire to prevent scratching and flicking...easy to fill. I only feed once in the evening, as my birds forage all day and I like to encourage this. And no one goes to bed without having a full gut.
Nest boxes are galvanized, mounted on the opposite wall of the feed trough. Mix of pine bedding and hay....never much poop in my nests as no one sleeps there. All my junior birds are either roosting or sleeping in the bedding, if they are too timid. If one tries to sleep in the nests, the attached roosts are the type that fold up and block the nests. Simple stuff.
Watering pan is black rubber....it is located over by my watering hose. A quick bend, swish and rinse motion, refill. Simple.
Collecting eggs? Once day when I feed~either I take a basket with me or I just hold my shirt out and cradle them there. Not time consuming.
This is my routine daily....I only have to visit my coop in the evening...once a day. My pop door is open 24/7..I never shut it and the birds put themselves to bed. I have the best chicken insurance in the world sleeping right outside their door and ever watchful all day.
I guess you could include my dog feeding with the chicken routine which adds a minute onto the routine...dump some feed on the ground, check the water...rinse and refill the bucket as needed. Give hugs and pats, etc.
I can't imagine trying to clean up poop each day...how tiresome and they will just make more the next day! Why not use deep litter and capture the value of the manure, compost it right there in the pen until its time to spread it on the gardens? Throw some BOSS down in it once in awhile for really good turning by the chickens.
Maybe y'all are trying to be too clean and pristine in your setups? Since I free range, most of the manure is out on the acre I live on...the dogs keep it cleaned up almost immediately. I try to keep the chicken's environment as natural as possible and it must be working. They are healthy and thriving, no illnesses yet.
Joe, I can't even imagine having carpeting in my nest boxes...too hard to keep clean. If poop does get in my nests, I just pull the contents out and throw it into my deep litter, walk next door to the dog barn and grab an armful of hay and replace it. Quick, effective, done in a couple of seconds.
There really is no need for all this scrubbing, scraping, cleaning of chicken coops, waterers and feeders. It might make you feel good, but in the long run it doesn't change the fact that chickens live exposed to their own feces and any other environmental pathogens that may be present. Expose them early and often to build a good immune system, give them fresh water and good food each day....and just collect them eggs.
Five minutes.
I'll have to do that...though it takes some time for my dial up to load pics and it seems silly to take pics of a old feeder, watering pan and feed bin. How about I describe my setup?
I have an ancient hen house coop that is about 8 ft. X 15 ft. My roosts are recycled bean poles and old branches set about 4 1/2 ft off the floor. I use deep litter all year round, so poop is not an issue for me....it falls into the deep litter, my chickens keep it mixed in and it slowly decomposes into the litter. No bad smells, no flies....its pleasant and woody smelling. I also use shredded paper from the office....dump the bag in a spreading motion, chickens mix it in. My coop has one whole wall of windows and the opposite wall has a large one as well. I clean out deep litter twice a year. It doesn't have a bad smell and is light and fluffy.
Feed bin consists of a metal garbage can located right beside the feed trough. Open can, bend over, scoop several scoops into the trough. The trough is wrapped in welded wire to prevent scratching and flicking...easy to fill. I only feed once in the evening, as my birds forage all day and I like to encourage this. And no one goes to bed without having a full gut.
Nest boxes are galvanized, mounted on the opposite wall of the feed trough. Mix of pine bedding and hay....never much poop in my nests as no one sleeps there. All my junior birds are either roosting or sleeping in the bedding, if they are too timid. If one tries to sleep in the nests, the attached roosts are the type that fold up and block the nests. Simple stuff.
Watering pan is black rubber....it is located over by my watering hose. A quick bend, swish and rinse motion, refill. Simple.
Collecting eggs? Once day when I feed~either I take a basket with me or I just hold my shirt out and cradle them there. Not time consuming.
This is my routine daily....I only have to visit my coop in the evening...once a day. My pop door is open 24/7..I never shut it and the birds put themselves to bed. I have the best chicken insurance in the world sleeping right outside their door and ever watchful all day.
I guess you could include my dog feeding with the chicken routine which adds a minute onto the routine...dump some feed on the ground, check the water...rinse and refill the bucket as needed. Give hugs and pats, etc.
I can't imagine trying to clean up poop each day...how tiresome and they will just make more the next day! Why not use deep litter and capture the value of the manure, compost it right there in the pen until its time to spread it on the gardens? Throw some BOSS down in it once in awhile for really good turning by the chickens.
Maybe y'all are trying to be too clean and pristine in your setups? Since I free range, most of the manure is out on the acre I live on...the dogs keep it cleaned up almost immediately. I try to keep the chicken's environment as natural as possible and it must be working. They are healthy and thriving, no illnesses yet.
Joe, I can't even imagine having carpeting in my nest boxes...too hard to keep clean. If poop does get in my nests, I just pull the contents out and throw it into my deep litter, walk next door to the dog barn and grab an armful of hay and replace it. Quick, effective, done in a couple of seconds.
There really is no need for all this scrubbing, scraping, cleaning of chicken coops, waterers and feeders. It might make you feel good, but in the long run it doesn't change the fact that chickens live exposed to their own feces and any other environmental pathogens that may be present. Expose them early and often to build a good immune system, give them fresh water and good food each day....and just collect them eggs.
Five minutes.
Last edited:
