lollyfry Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Another question from me - a newbee Our ex-batts, which we've only had for a week, have a penned of area at the bottom of our garden. This area is currently grass but I am well aware that when the rain and winter really kicks in that grass is going to disappear..... But before this happens I'm not sure what to do about how to pick up all the poo! Obviously cleaning the coop and the concrete slabs that stands on is no problem but how to i 'clean' the grass properly?? Apologies if this sounds really dumb but I don't want to risk any nasties getting to our girls! I use diatom in the coop and on the slabs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggregiousness Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Well, I've only had my girls a few weeks but they are completely free-range. I go out a couple of times a day (more usually because I am obsessive ) with a cat litter scoop and a long stick and pick them all up. Mostly they are quite firm and easy to pick up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jos Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 I use a trowel to pick up their poo.... as Eggregiousness says, unless it's a really sloppy poo they come up quite easily. J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lollyfry Posted September 18, 2009 Author Share Posted September 18, 2009 I think that has been the problem - a few sloppy ones! Things seem to be firming up now, guess it might have been the stress of the move!!?! Good idea with the trowel - thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbier Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 It's when it rains that you have problems, IME. My eglu run used to get a complete mat of crusty poo around the grub after a few days. Yum. Oh I'm so glad I now have aubiose down in my brilliant WIR: no more scratching about on the lawn for me (sorry, do I sound a bit smug...oops!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Mine free range all day and I go out about every other day and poo pick with a trug and a cat litter scoop. I 'flick' into the trug rather than scoop. The sloppy ones can be scooped and then washed into the grass with a watering can if you want it really tidy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gelbel Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 I've had mine 5 weeks now (seems like yesterday) and have settled in to a nice routine. I free range them after work for an hour or so (ie time for a sit down with a cuppa and getting tea ready while watching them - and assuming I am not away for the day) and for as many hours as possible at the weekend after they have had a good breakfast of pellets. Anyhow, I poo pick the garden a couple of times a week. The main poo pick is once a week when I am drying everything out after a good old scrub. To be honest (sorry to be so graphic ) I prefer it to dry out - easier to deal with. I use a cat litter scoop to pop it into the used newspaper bundle of nest bedding (I so wish they would not kip in their nest) and onwards to the compost bin. I find the curry poos disappear from the grass - even without rain. IMHO life's too short for me to worry about it. I only poo pick ASAP if it's on the door step or where I stand to hang the washing out. I do have garden shoes by the back door that I change into religiously. But I find the vast majority of their poo is not in my walk from the back door to their their run. Clever girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 I use a small hand rake and a cat litter scoop that I got from morrisons I only do the lawn if there are any big piles or smelly ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 My lot had runny poops for a few weeks after arrival. Just stress and it will soon sort itself out. When it does and things are back to normal, a trowel and bucket to flick into are ok for poop picking the lawn daily. You are right, when the rain kicks in grass can disappear. I have clay soil, so it's even worse. I am now quite mean and keep my girls locked in the run on really soggy days or even days of constant drizzle which waterlogs the grass. Otherwise they will scratch up a 1sq metre area of grass in less than 5 mins on a rainy day. Because they are looking for worms which rise to the surface. So locking them in can help and I'm better at this now that when I first had them. (winter 1 no grass, winter 2 had grass, winter 3 is approaching.......) This is what my lot did to my lawn after a few mins on a rainy day last year. In winter, my lot live on the patio slabs too. A covered run with Auboise (or similar brand of horse bedding) is perfect to soak up poops and then just change the bedding monthly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisEllis Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Hi, mine are going to have literally half an acre of running space, is it necessary to poo pick? cant the poo just be washed into the grass seeing as its such a vast area that poo wont congregate and become messy:S? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 I think the only reason you'd want to poo pick is if you actually want to use the area yourself, ie to walk on or for kids to play on. If the land is just for the chickens, I'd not bother poo picking . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jan246 Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 I have to poo pick regularly so the children can play on the grass. I have an old dustpan and brush to use just for the chickens. Had my girls 2 weeks now and still getting some runny droppings so I found the pan and brush (working together) easier than just a trowel trying to pick up and not flick everywhere! My problem is then what to do with it? My compost bin is fullish but I know its great stuff for gardeners. Thinking I could bag/bin a load up and when full give to a gardener in need! Does anyone else do this? Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 I think there are a few folk who give their chicken poop away on Freecycle . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 My OH prefers to 'mow' it up when he cuts the grass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_m Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 so its pretty essential to pick it up? I only got my girls yesterday. Can i wait the five days until they can wander around the garden before I get in or shall I do it when they're in bed? I thought it was good for the grass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 I wear rubber gloves to poo pick, you can get some of the sloppy ones then too! If they're really messy I hose them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tagiben Posted April 30, 2021 Share Posted April 30, 2021 I am confused about this too! Today I raked it all up from the grass, which is slowly losing its grass status. The girleens have been with me for 4 days, and after, the area looked so much better! They were astonished when their house was moved to rake it over!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazychickenkim Posted March 25, 2022 Share Posted March 25, 2022 I just mow mine all up i have 9 chickens and they poop alot every week i mow it all away and wash away the sloppy ones works a treat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...