David

[Ashmeads Kernel]

What is the Frequency of changing bedding?. I am using wood shavings in the trays. I read somewhere I should use newspaper in the trays, to aid cleaning. If I do that where would the shavings go? How often should the perch bars be cleaned?

 

Thanks

 

Andrew

[gavclojak]

For what it's worth, I when I let the girls out in the morning I remove the poop from the trays and then use baby wipes and give the roosting bars a wipe over, it takes about 20 seconds and makes the big clean easier.

 

I remove all the bedding from the trays and nest box every other week and hose down the cube, spray with poultry shield, leave that an hour then rinse . Once all dry I put it back together and dust every nook and cranny with DE

 

Auboise is far more absorbent than newspaper and helps deter flies. Make sure you use sawdust that is dust extracted as that's not good for hens.

 

So far so good, not bugs, mites etc etc.....maybe it's just good luck but I also use an ivermectin based spot-on on my girls every 4/6 times a year

 

FYI I think every single omleteer does what works for them, and it wildly differs.....what works for you works:)

[The Dogmother]

I use Aubiose as well, and just clean them out once a week. I would advise against newspaper - it wicks dampness from the atmosphere in towards itself, so will end up a mushy mess when we have rain.

[Pottage]

I too use Aubiose, it is genius stuff!

 

I clean the poop out every morning after I've let them out into their run, then completly change the Aubiose in the coop and nest boxes once a week.

[Mrs Webmuppet]

I use newspaper in the poo trays and change that two or three times a week (simply roll it up and dispose of it into the composting bin) and remove the bars for a scrub. The run gets cleaned out once a week. I use aubiose too, I have tried other beddings but aubiose is heavier and the chooks can't kick it so far plus it dries out quicker. It also makes a handy garden mulch after the chooks have used it......slugs and snails don't like the sharp edges

[jimnpaula]

I'm rather slovenly and prefer to do as little cleaning as I can get away with!

So every 1-2 weeks the whole lot gets emptied out and scrubbed down (just water and an alloy wheel brush), sprayed with something like poultry shield or an anti red mite, and left to dry as long as possible. Put the trays and bars back in and a thinnish layer of Aubiose sprinkled over/through them to dry the poos as it all falls in the trays (makes it easier to s"Ooops, word censored!"e off the trays).

 

When the weather is good enough, twice a year the whole cube gets dismantled for a thorough clean.

 

During the summer mine like to sleep in the run so the house doesn't get as dirty as quickly, winter requires more frequent cleans - but as it's difficult to dry the house when it's raining often it just gets a good s"Ooops, word censored!"e with an old plastic windscreen s"Ooops, word censored!"er.

 

The chooks won't mind how clean it is, as long as it doesn't affect their health.

[Chickabee]

I agree with all of the above, but don't use newspaper. Used to, but as Dogmother said it stays wet. If the poop falls straight onto the plastic through the bars it's very easy to s"Ooops, word censored!"e off with a wallpaper s"Ooops, word censored!"er or something similar, as it dries out. Aubiose is very good, but I do use other similar products too. The girls don't mind as long as they've got something to scratch and dust bath in

[percy049]

We use shredded paper in the Eglu mixed with Aubiose (used Aubiose ever since it was recommended on here). Using the paper does mean you have to clean out it more often than with just Aubiose alone.

[The Dogmother]

The problem with dampness is that it will encourage red mites.