Coops and Poops

I like to think we're pretty hip and modern. So we can't have some dumpy, country kitsch coop in the backyard. It's gotta be clean lines, urban inspired and look nice through my kitchen window. And I suppose it should be conducive to chickens as well.

So I bought this book:

I love every single design in this book. If only my husband were handy with a saw and a drill. If you are handy, this is definitely a great resource. It's available on amazon for $13 or so.

Unfortunately every single coop I like is like $1500. Did I mention we're teachers? $1500 for a chicken coop is definitely not in the budget.

So we've decided to buy something simple and then make modifications. I'll keep you posted on how that goes.

So now for the poops.

Chickens can be smelly. I know I said they're not, but they can be. I've been told to avoid using straw and hay at all costs. That's what causes the coop to smell like a barn. We're also pretty lazy when it comes to cleaning up poop in general. We had to hire a service to clean up our backyard weekly so it doesn't get out of control. So I've decided that the "Deep Litter" method is the most convenient and practical method for coop clean up and here's why.

You can compost! According to the Lazy Homesteader who is also from Denver, but apparently has recently relocated to Texas, but still has awesome resources on her blog, this is the easiest and least smelly way to tend your coop.

Start by laying down 4-6 inches of organic yard waste (leaves, grass, pine shavings). Then sprinkle some DE (Diatomaceous Earth) on top of it and mix it in with a rake. Then let your chickens poop to their hearts content. When you start to notice a lot of poop, give it a turn with the rake, sprinkle more pine shavings on top and let the poop continue. Every 6 months or so, clean it all out, put it in your backyard compost bin and start fresh. I figured we'd time it with our fall and spring yard clean up.

The reason I like this method is because, like I said, I hate cleaning up poop. But more importantly, it can get freakin' cold in Denver in the winter. Because your coop litter is composting, it produces heat and will help warm the air in the coop for your chickens. Pretty sweet right?

Check out Huckleberry Farms for more great info!