Deep-cleaning the coop became easier after we made a few simple management modifications. Not only is it faster to complete the semi-annual ‘deep cleanings,’ but I find that I am able to keep the coops cleaner in between deep cleanings by employing these five elements: droppings boards, removable roosts, a dedicated coop duster and sand .

DROPPINGS BOARDS 

Droppings boards are essentially shelves designed to collect chicken poop deposited overnight. Backyard chickens spend most of their waking hours outside the coop, either ranging freely outside the run or wandering around inside an enclosed run, which means that droppings inside the coop accumulate primarily overnight underneath the roosts. Utilizing droppings boards to collect those droppings is a simple and effective method
for keeping the coop largely poop-free.

Each morning, I take my trusty beach pail and scrape the droppings into it with a taping knife. The droppings are then added directly to my compost pile. Droppings boards keep the litter/bedding cleaner, which means less frequent litter changes and less frequent litter changes result in time and money savings.

I use a thin layer of Sweet Coop® to absorb any residual moisture on the droppings boards after daily scraping, which creates an inhospitable environment for flies and the generation of ammonia!

Sweet Coop® zeolite

Sweet Coop®

Bonus:  Sweet Coop® acts like a slow-release fertilizer in the garden after being composted with droppings! 

Beyond coop sanitation, droppings boards provide a daily opportunity to assess the health and well-being of the flock. I am able to see plainly whether a chicken has been injured in a scuffle overnight, has contracted coccidiosis, worms or diarrhea. Without droppings boards, most of that evidence would be hidden in the bedding, denying the chicken-keeper the opportunity to detect and treat certain health problems as early as possible.

REMOVABLE ROOSTS

We removed the original roosts that came installed in the pre-fab coop with a sledgehammer.  

The replacement roosts were 2 x 4s inserted into joist hangers secured to the walls.

When we purchased our first coop, it came with roosts permanently affixed to the walls. When we decided to install droppings boards, the roosts needed to be raised in order for the droppings boards to fit underneath. When reinstalling the roosts, my husband affixed joist hangers, which the 2-by-4s fit into, which made the roosts removable for cleaning. I find that removable roosts much easier to sand or scrub clean if they are on the ground outside the coop. It is also much easier to access the areas behind and underneath the roosts when they are out of the way. I periodically replace the roosts with new 2x4s.

SAND – THE LITTER SUPERSTAR

Sand as litter in the chicken coop looks cleaner than other litter option and is cleaner! In scientific studies done by the Auburn University Department of Poultry Science, sand performed better than pine shavings with lower bacterial counts, lower fungal populations and lower moisture levels. The Auburn study states, “Sand, being inorganic, contains few nutrients that could be utilized by bacteria and, thus, would tend to lead to lower bacterial numbers.” “Additionally, sand may lack binding sites for bacteria.” Coliform counts, including E.coli, were found be significantly lower in sand than in wood shavings. Sand costs a fraction of the price of any other litter material and keeps the coop cleaner with less effort! Like the droppings boards, sand is attended to once daily, which takes only minutes to achieve a clean, dry environment for my flock, which is healthier for them.

FEED BAGS ON WALLS

Staple empty feed bags onto the walls behind the roosts. It’s much easier to replace soiled feed bags than it is to scrape chicken poop off the walls!

DUSTER

The harsh reality of housekeeping in chicken coops is that they are perpetually dusty. Regardless of the litter choice, it generates dust. In fact, chickens themselves are especially dusty. If you have ever raised baby chicks inside the house in a brooder, you know this to be true.

To keep the dust to a manageable level, I keep a duster inside the chicken coop. Whenever I have a moment to spare, I give the walls, nest box curtains, window dressings and feedbag artwork a quick dusting, which makes the semi-annual cleaning a much less tedious undertaking.