Cathryn - I know what you mean about being behind!! I'm finally done -
I do deep litter, and only scoop out all the old litter twice a year,
once in fall, once in spring. Fall cleanout didn't get done till
yesterday. I only have a 24 by 14 coop, and there is a four foot
hallway down the center. So I have just 20 by 14 that needs scooping
and replacing with fresh deep litter. But it took me four days to do
it!! Partially because I was painting after I got the old litter
scooped out, before I put the fresh in. Things are set up well, I can
get a wheelbarrow down the center walkway, and then take it out the far
end into the large fenced pen (have two of them, current one will be
next spring's 100 by 50 garden). So I only have to carry (in two 5
gallon buckets) from each inside coop pen (have 3) out to the
wheelbarrow. But they are heavy! I start the day using a shovel, but
my back gives out at some point, and I'm down on my knees with a hand
scoop. I go as far as I can, and then call the digging a day. Get the
painting done, take an hour break (its fast drying stuff, so I can put
in the new litter an hour after painting). And then spread the fresh
litter, carry in whatever chicken implements got displaced for the work,
and finally bring the chickens back. I had initially thought I was
going to get the whole thing mucked out in one day!! HA!!! I'll know
better for the future, plus I'll probably hire (if I can... money is
tight) a young strong back to help with the digging. Plus I won't have
to be painting next time. I wasn't originally going to paint the inside
of the coop - but its untreated plywood and 2X4's, except for the 4x4
structural posts. Saw what was happening where chicken stuff hit the
wood, and decided the walls and 2x4's needed at least a coat of primer.
Want this structure to last as long as I do (I'm 57 now). But it made
the cleanup a lot trickier this time around. This was my first muck out
from this coop - just had it built last spring. I keep the nest boxes
cleaned out regularly, and the roosts. Last couple years I just had a
handfull of chickens, with a 4X10 foot coop. So this was new for me.
Not looking forward to the twice a year repitions!! On the other hand,
my next year's garden will love all this litter after it has broken down
over winter - plus all the fertilization the chickens have offered over
the summer out there. Next spring's litter will go into their "new" run
- this summer's garden, in a big compost heap. Anyways, I
commiserate. My body aches today, every muscle hurting. And there are
days I simply can't work, due to ongoing health issues, so get behind.
I had intended to do this muckout in early September!! Glad its done
for now. Actually, I still have some painting to do - only went as far
as I could go without a ladder. Just needed to get the old litter
replaced, and had to do the lower parts while the litter was out. I
think I can paint the upper part without dislocating the chickens, if we
have a warm enough day for that yet this winter, otherwise it'll have to
wait till spring. I thought I'd try to get out and get it done today -
but my body says NO... and besides it sounds like its going to rain,
which means the humidity will be too high, plus all the chickens are
likely to be milling around in the coop rather than out in the run.
Rain forecast today and tomorrow, then snow and sleet for Friday... Sigh.
Sara
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