Does anyone make a fine rake for raking/sifting bedding in a coop?

[7&8]

I'm one of those folks

that use a kitty litter scoop to sift the shavings in my coop pretty much every day. Maybe to some this is pathetic

, but my little flock is what I have to care for, and I'm pretty into good chicken housekeeping, as I see it, anywho.

So, I have a one gallon bucket, dedicated to chicken poop, and this plastic kitty litter scoop. I put on a dust mask when I go in to do this, btw. I grab my scoop, and use it to clear the shavings on the coop floor large enough for my big feet to be while I scoop the closest stray poops up. Just kinda' put the edge of the scooper under the poop and flick it/shimmy it/them into the scoop, and then the bucket; and from there, to the compost. It's not exactly rocket science, but it leaves chicken world a better place, and which is why I love this daily ritual so much, I 'spose! In the end, you're not really having to deal with a whole lot of actual sifting clean shavings from soiled ones; the big, wet clumps of shavings, you just shovel up the whole clump. The obvious target areas are under roost bars. I don't tread on the shavings. This breaks them down. And I make a point to have clean boots when going in the coop to do this.

Ok, this is probably waaay more than anyone cares to read above my personal OCD

but there you have it!

Would I go through this if I had a larger flock? Mebbe not. I do know a man who is kind of considered the local chicken guru, and he uses deep pine shavings for bedding in his coops. He completely cleans out his coops each week - says it's because he doesn't care for the urea small. Me thinks it's good husbandry.

 

[shopchicks]

I saw this in my horse tack catalog, and plan to get one for my coop. I use a regular stall fork right now, but it only catches the big stuff.

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-27346&ids=515387921

 

[WildflowerJLH]

My pine shavings are just too big for any of these things!

I get the bulk of the poop under the roosts every couple days using a kitty litter scoop or a shovel. Then I stir up the rest to make what is left behind fall and the shavings are lighter, so they come to the top.

 

[2DogsFarm]

Quote:
Nuh-uh
I use the same pine shavings in my coop that I use in the horse's stalls.
Unless you have found a source for XL Supersized shavings the Futurefork Jr would work for you.

The tines are spaced so the manure stays in but the shavings shake out easily.
Probably spacing won't work for very young chickens' poop - I use a catlitter scoop for my 3mo chicks - but for fullsize hens just don't shake as hard as for horse manure.

 

[whatchickens?]

I have a small flock of batams. I find the best way to do housekeeping every couple of days is with large plastic salad tongs! I keep a handy plastic 5 gallon bucket to throw the remains in then take to my compost pile. I've been using these since I've had my hens.... it helps that my coop is elevated so when I open the door to the coop I can reach in and clean up without bending over! [

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[firsthouse_mp]

I love the way everyone uses a different technique...gives me a lot of options to try! I am a pine shavings person too, so separating the "wheat from the chaff" has been my obsession too!!