Mrs

[Henergy]

I know many of you are eglu owners but I was wondering if there were any wooden coop owners out there to help ?

 

Day 7 of chickens - I have been poo picking every day and this afternoon intend to take out the tray & compost all the bedding & put in fresh. I have been putting paper under the auboise but think I will stop that because they just tear it up ! Is this cleaning regime ok and how often should I use poultry shield ? Was thinking about once a month.

 

I also have some diatom powder to sprinkle in edges - but I thought I read somewhere that it is not great for the nesting boxes as the chickens breathe it in. Am I mistaken & should I just squirt liberally all over ?

[Daphne]

Your regime is fine Although after a while you may find you become a little less houseproud (or possibly thats just me ). I use poultry shield about twice a month, basically whenever I empty the aubiose out completely - in between times I poo-pick and top up the bedding. I don't use diatom anymore but I used to put it in everywhere. Take care with any spray/dry powders - chooks have very sensitive airways and it is best to use them when "Ooops, word censored!"ody is in residence. I shut my girls out when I clean.

[Redwing]

pretty much the same here

 

I shut any pophole and do the cleaning then leave the door/roof open for any dust to settle for a few minutes

 

a wallpaper s"Ooops, word censored!"er is useful for wooden coops I use it to s"Ooops, word censored!"e the floor and walls and get any bedding out of corners

 

I also use a dustpan and brush to get rid of cobwebs, dust and really get the floor clean

 

A puffer bootle for powder is useful otherwise use a tub powder and use a big soft paintbrush to apply to corners and joins

[Jools]

I have four Forsham houses and one Wells house, all wooden. I try to poop pick the houses most days (I'm lucky enough to work from home) and I do a complete change when the aubiose gets a bit thin rather than at a precise time. I don't know if it's because most of mine are bantams or if it's because my houses are mainly triangular but I don't need to do any s"Ooops, word censored!"ping, except very occasionally a perch. When I do a complete change, I use a dustpan and brush to get rid of any dust, add fresh aubiose and then some Barrier Red Mite Powder, paying particular attention to the nest box and perch ends. I don't Poultry Shield very often, probably once or twice a year at most. I usually have one house empty at any one time and I tend to leave it open to the elements - fresh air and sunlight are great natural cleaners.

[Lavenders_Blue]

Two wooden coops here and a very similar regime to Jools.

I poo pick daily, change the shredded paper in the nest box when it looks like it needs doing and do a full clean out as often as it needs it. Very vague, but you'll be able to tell when things need a thorough clean!

Poultry shield maybe between once a month in summer (in case of red mites, although I do keep eyes peeled for them too) and less in winter as the coop takes so bloomin' long to dry out when it's damp and rainy!

I have also been known to take the vacuum cleaner out in the garden to get the dusty bits out of the nooks and crannies, must get a hand held one for the job really! (Hubby would be horrified if I told him )

[Henergy]

Hand held vaccuum

 

Glad it seems I'm on the right track.