The Best Tools for Scooping Chicken Poop in Sand.

Keeping a chicken coop clean is one of the most important tasks for any chicken owner. While there are many different types of bedding that can be used in a coop, sand is a popular choice for its natural absorbency and low cost.

However, one challenge that comes with using sand as bedding material in your chicken coop or run is the task of cleaning it.

In this article, we will explore some of the best tools and techniques for scooping poop out of a sand-filled chicken coop.

Whether you are a seasoned chicken owner or just starting out, these tips will make coop cleaning a breeze. So, grab your scoops, and let’s get started!

Kids Metal Rake

One tool that I find very useful is a kid’s metal rake. It has the perfect size tines to sift through the sand and scoop up the poop. I use this rake to rake the poo to the door and even use it to pull nesting boxes closer to collect eggs and shake the debris off the nesting box pads. I then have a bucket that I place the sifted poop into. This method works well for me, but it may not be suitable for those with larger coops.

When I clean my chicken coop, I start by using the kid’s metal rake to carefully rake the accumulated droppings toward the coop door. The narrow gaps between the tines allow me to collect the droppings without disturbing the sand bedding excessively. By gently maneuvering the rake through the sand, I can gather the droppings into a neat pile near the door.

In addition to scooping poop, the kid’s metal rake serves multiple purposes in coop maintenance. I also utilize it to pull the nesting boxes closer for easier access when collecting eggs. With a simple rake motion, I can bring the boxes within reach, ensuring a convenient and efficient egg collection process.

Kids Rake

Kids Metal Rake

Child-size metal lawn rakes are fantastic gardening tools and can be used to scoop chicken pop in sand

Moreover, the metal rake proves invaluable for shaking off debris from the nesting box pads. By gently raking over the pads, I dislodge any dirt, feathers, or other materials that may have accumulated. This ensures that the nesting boxes remain clean and comfortable for the hens, promoting better egg-laying conditions.

To contain the collected droppings and maintain cleanliness, I keep a dedicated bucket nearby. Once I have sifted through the sand and scooped up the droppings with the metal rake, I carefully transfer them into the bucket. This allows for easy disposal or repurposing of the waste material, such as composting or using it as fertilizer for plants.

While the kid’s metal rake has proven to be an excellent tool for me, it is worth noting that its size and capacity may not be suitable for larger coops. If you have a more extensive chicken coop setup, you might need to consider alternative tools or methods to efficiently clean the larger area. However, for smaller to medium-sized coops, the kid’s metal rake offers a simple, affordable, and highly effective solution for keeping the coop clean and maintaining a healthy environment for your chickens.

Kitty Litter Scooper

Another tool that works great is a kitty litter scooper. This is perfect for smaller areas, but we only have sand in the coop, not the run, so it’s not as efficient for larger areas. Nonetheless, it is a very effective tool, especially when you need to clean up small spots.

Kitty Litter Scooper

Sand Dipper Square Cat Scoop

The kitty litter scooper is particularly well-suited for smaller areas within the coop. Its compact size and narrow slots allow for precise and efficient removal of chicken droppings, ensuring that even the tiniest particles are captured. When dealing with confined spaces or hard-to-reach corners, the kitty litter scooper is a go-to tool for spot cleaning.

Although the kitty litter scooper excels in smaller areas, its efficiency may be somewhat reduced when used in larger coop areas or runs that are not primarily filled with sand. Since your coop only has sand and not the run, the effectiveness of the scooper might be limited for cleaning larger areas. In such cases, alternative tools or techniques may be more appropriate for thorough and efficient cleaning.

Nevertheless, when it comes to cleaning up small spots or concentrated areas of droppings, the kitty litter scooper truly shines. Its sturdy construction and ergonomic handle make it easy to handle and maneuver. By gently scooping the sand and focusing on the specific spots where droppings are present, you can swiftly and effectively remove the waste material.

The narrow slots or mesh-like design of the scooper enable the sand to sift through while securely holding the droppings. This ensures that the clean sand is returned to the coop, while the droppings are collected and properly disposed of. The scooper’s design also minimizes the risk of cross-contamination and allows for quick and easy cleaning without excessive disturbance to the surrounding sand bedding.

For chicken owners who value efficiency and convenience, the kitty litter scooper is an excellent addition to their cleaning toolkit. Its effectiveness in spot cleaning and its ease of use make it a popular choice among those seeking to maintain a clean and hygienic environment for their chickens. Whether you need to clean up small areas or address specific spots within the coop, the kitty litter scooper proves to be a reliable and effective tool for managing chicken waste.

Long Handle Kitty Litter Scooper

Similar to the regular kitty litter scooper, this tool has a long handle, making it easier to reach those hard-to-get spots. I find this tool especially useful when I’m cleaning the edges of the coop where the walls meet the sand floor.

Long Handle Litter Scooper

Long Handle Cat Scoop Litter Box Scooper 

Cleaning the edges of the coop can be challenging, as the space is often narrow and restricted. However, the long handle of the kitty litter scooper significantly simplifies the task. Its length allows you to comfortably reach deep into those tight areas without straining or contorting your body.

When I clean the edges of my chicken coop, I rely on the long handle kitty litter scooper to remove droppings that may have accumulated in those narrow crevices. I carefully navigate the scooper along the edges, ensuring that I capture all the waste material. The extended handle provides a better reach and allows me to clean these tricky spots with ease and efficiency.

One of the main advantages of the long handle kitty litter scooper is its ability to maintain a good distance between you and the coop floor. This prevents unnecessary disturbance to the sand bedding, as you can effectively scoop up the droppings without excessively displacing the surrounding sand. By maintaining the integrity of the bedding, you can help preserve its functionality and reduce the frequency of complete bedding replacements.

Moreover, the long handle proves beneficial in maintaining personal hygiene and minimizing direct contact with the waste material. It acts as a barrier between your hand and the droppings, ensuring a more hygienic and pleasant cleaning experience.

In addition to the edges of the coop, the long handle kitty litter scooper is versatile and can be utilized in other areas where the extended reach is advantageous. For instance, it can be beneficial for reaching under roosting bars, navigating around feeders or waterers, and accessing corners that are difficult to clean with shorter tools.

By using the long handle kitty litter scooper, you can achieve a more thorough and comprehensive cleaning of your chicken coop. It allows you to target those hard-to-reach spots where droppings tend to accumulate, ensuring that your coop remains clean, sanitary, and comfortable for your chickens. With its extended reach and ease of use, this tool proves to be an invaluable asset in your coop cleaning routine.

Round Sifting Bowl

I’ve seen some backyard chicken keepers use a round sifting bowl to scoop up the poop. This tool works by placing the sand and poop into the bowl, then shaking it in a circular motion, which allows the sand to sift through the holes while the poop stays in the bowl. This is a useful tool for those who have a smaller coop or a smaller amount of sand to sift through.

Round Sifting Bowl

Round Sifting Bowl

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The round sifting bowl is designed with strategically placed holes or perforations on the bottom. To use the tool, you begin by placing a mixture of sand and poop into the bowl. Holding onto the bowl securely, you then shake it in a circular motion. The shaking action causes the sand to sift through the holes, while the droppings remain inside the bowl, effectively separating the waste from the clean sand.

This method of using the round sifting bowl offers several advantages. Firstly, it simplifies the task of cleaning the coop by eliminating the need for manual scooping or raking. Instead, the shaking motion efficiently separates the waste material, saving you time and effort.

The round shape of the bowl allows for an even distribution of the shaking motion, ensuring that all areas of the sand bed are covered. As you rotate the bowl, the sand gradually sifts through the holes, leaving the droppings trapped inside. This systematic approach ensures that the majority of the waste is captured, leaving behind cleaner and more sanitary sand bedding.

The round sifting bowl is particularly beneficial for chicken keepers with smaller coops or limited amounts of sand. Since the tool’s capacity may be relatively modest, it may not be as efficient for larger areas or coops with significant accumulations of droppings. However, for those with smaller-scale setups, this tool provides an effective and practical solution for maintaining cleanliness.

Additionally, the round sifting bowl is a convenient and portable tool that can be easily maneuvered within the coop. Its lightweight construction allows for effortless handling, making it a preferred choice for individuals who may have physical limitations or desire a less strenuous cleaning process.

Cleaning a sand-filled coop using a round sifting bowl offers a time-saving and efficient method of separating droppings from the sand. By employing a circular shaking motion, the bowl effectively sifts the sand while keeping the waste material contained within it. This tool provides a valuable option for those with smaller coops or limited amounts of sand, ensuring a cleaner and more hygienic environment for your chickens.

Long Hand Sand Sifter

If you’re looking for a more heavy-duty tool, you may want to consider a long hand sand sifter used for metal detecting at the beach. This tool is similar to the round sifting bowl, but it’s larger and has longer handles, making it easier to use in a larger coop.

Long Hand Sand Sifter

Long Hand Sand Sifter

The long hand sand sifter boasts an enlarged size compared to its counterparts, allowing for more efficient cleaning in larger coop areas. The extended handles provide increased reach, eliminating the need for excessive bending or squatting while cleaning. This feature is especially beneficial for individuals who prefer to minimize physical strain during coop maintenance tasks.

Similar to the round sifting bowl, the long hand sand sifter employs the principle of sifting to separate the sand from the droppings. With its elongated structure, it allows for a wider coverage area, ensuring that more sand is sifted at once. The longer handles provide leverage and control, enabling you to effectively shake and sift the sand bedding with ease.

Using the long hand sand sifter is relatively straightforward. You start by placing a mixture of sand and droppings onto the sifter’s surface. Grasping the handles firmly, you then shake the sifter back and forth or in a circular motion, allowing the sand to filter through while retaining the droppings on top of the sifter.

This heavy-duty tool excels in its ability to handle larger quantities of sand and waste material. Its robust construction ensures durability and longevity, even when subjected to repetitive use in demanding cleaning tasks. The larger size and extended handles make it ideal for coop owners with more substantial spaces to maintain, as it enables faster and more efficient cleaning compared to smaller tools.

Furthermore, the long hand sand sifter offers versatility beyond its primary use in chicken coop cleaning. Its design makes it well-suited for various other applications, such as sifting soil or separating small debris from sand in other outdoor settings. This multi-functionality enhances its value, providing chicken owners with a tool that can serve multiple purposes.

When dealing with a larger coop, investing in a long hand sand sifter designed for metal detecting at the beach can significantly simplify the cleaning process. The tool’s larger size, extended handles, and heavy-duty construction enable effective and efficient removal of droppings from the sand bedding. With its versatility and durability, the long hand sand sifter is a reliable choice for those seeking a high-performance solution for maintaining cleanliness in their larger chicken coops.

Custom-made Tools

Some backyard chicken keepers get creative and make their own custom-made tools. For example, my husband created a few different scoops and rakes using materials we had around the house. One scoop he made had a long handle and a mesh bottom, allowing the sand to sift through while the poop stayed on top. Another tool he made was a rake with a mesh bottom and a handle that can be adjusted to different lengths.

The beauty of custom-made tools lies in their adaptability to individual preferences and specific coop layouts. Each tool can be designed to address unique cleaning challenges and optimize efficiency. By utilizing materials at hand, chicken keepers can create tools that perfectly fit their needs, saving money and fostering a sense of satisfaction in the process.

Furthermore, custom-made tools encourage a sense of ingenuity and resourcefulness within the chicken keeping community. They provide an opportunity for coop owners to share their creative solutions and inspire others to think outside the box when it comes to maintaining a clean coop environment.

It’s important to note that when creating custom-made tools, safety should always be a priority. Careful consideration should be given to the materials used, ensuring they are suitable for the intended purpose and pose no harm to the chickens or the person using the tool. Regular inspection and maintenance of custom-made tools are also essential to ensure they remain in good working condition.

Hay Pitch Fork Wrapped with Hardware Cloth

One creative solution I’ve seen is to take a hay pitchfork and wrap it with hardware cloth, then zip-tie it together. This creates a faster and more efficient tool that can scoop up larger amounts of poop.

Pitch Fork

Pitch Fork Wrapped with Hardware Cloth

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The process begins by taking a standard hay pitchfork, a commonly available tool in many rural or farming households. To enhance its poop-scooping capabilities, the pitchfork is wrapped with hardware cloth, which is a sturdy material often used for fencing or screening. The hardware cloth is securely attached to the pitchfork using zip ties, creating a durable and effective cleaning tool.

The integration of hardware cloth onto the hay pitchfork enhances its functionality in several ways. First and foremost, the mesh-like structure of the wire cloth prevents smaller particles of sand from passing through the pitchfork’s tines while still allowing the droppings to be collected. This enables a more efficient cleanup process, as the tool effectively separates the waste from the sand, reducing the need for manual sifting or raking.

The addition of hardware cloth also increases the capacity of the pitchfork to handle larger amounts of poop. The sturdy material provides structural support and prevents the droppings from falling off or being scattered during the cleaning process. This is particularly advantageous for chicken owners with larger coops or areas that require frequent cleaning, as it allows for faster and more effective waste removal.

Moreover, the combination of the hay pitchfork and hardware cloth creates a versatile tool that can be used in various cleaning scenarios. The pitchfork’s long handle provides extended reach, enabling access to hard-to-reach spots within the coop. It also allows the user to maintain an upright posture, minimizing strain on the back and reducing the risk of discomfort or injury during the cleaning process.

The zip ties used to secure the hardware cloth to the pitchfork ensure a secure and stable connection, allowing for reliable and consistent performance. However, it is essential to periodically inspect the tool and replace any worn or damaged zip ties to maintain its functionality and safety.

Shovel with Holes Throughout

Another tool I’ve seen used is a shovel with holes throughout the blade. This allows the sand to sift through while the poop stays on top. This is a useful tool for larger areas that need to be cleaned quickly.

Showel With Holes

Shovel with Holes Throughout

The holes, typically evenly spaced and of sufficient size, allow the sand to pass through while preventing the droppings from falling back into the bedding. This feature eliminates the need for manual sifting or raking, streamlining the cleaning process, especially in larger coop areas.

Using a shovel with holes is particularly beneficial when time is of the essence. The design allows for a faster cleanup, as the sand sifts through the holes effortlessly, leaving behind droppings. With each scoop, a significant amount of sand can be sifted, significantly reducing the time and effort required to maintain a clean coop.

Moreover, the shovel’s large surface area and sturdy construction make it well-suited for handling larger amounts of waste. This is especially advantageous for chicken owners with extensive coop areas or a significant number of chickens, where a higher volume of droppings may accumulate. The shovel’s durability ensures that it can withstand the demands of heavy-duty use, providing long-lasting performance.

In addition to its effectiveness in cleaning sand-filled coops, the shovel with holes throughout the blade also offers versatility in its application. It can be used for other purposes, such as sifting soil or removing debris from outdoor surfaces. This multi-functionality enhances its value, as it becomes a useful tool beyond coop maintenance alone.

When using a shovel with holes, it is important to ensure that the size and spacing of the holes are suitable for your specific needs. Smaller holes may be more effective in retaining finer particles while larger holes may allow for faster sifting of larger debris. Regular maintenance of the shovel is also essential to keep the holes clean and prevent clogging, ensuring optimal performance.

Safety should always be a priority when using any tool in the chicken coop. It is crucial to handle the shovel with care to prevent injury to yourself or the chickens. Additionally, maintaining proper hygiene by regularly cleaning and disinfecting the shovel helps minimize the risk of pathogen transmission.

Conclusion

There are various tools and techniques that can be used to scoop up poop in a sand-based coop.

The tools and techniques mentioned in the article provide different options for scooping poop out of a sand-filled coop. Here’s a summary of the tools discussed:

1. Kids Metal Rake: A small-sized rake with suitable tines for sifting through sand and scooping up poop. Useful for raking poop to the door, moving nesting boxes, and collecting eggs.
2. Kitty Litter Scooper: Works well for smaller areas and spot cleaning. Not as efficient for larger areas but effective for picking up small spots.
3. Long Handle Kitty Litter Scooper: Similar to the regular kitty litter scooper but with a longer handle for reaching hard-to-reach spots, particularly along the edges of the coop.
4. Round Sifting Bowl: This tool allows you to place sand and poop into the bowl and shake it in a circular motion. The sand sifts through the holes while the poop remains in the bowl. Suitable for smaller coops or smaller amounts of sand.
5. Long Hand Sand Sifter: A larger version of the round sifting bowl, with longer handles, making it more suitable for larger coops.
6. Custom-made Tools: Some chicken owners create their own scoops and rakes using materials they have around the house. These custom-made tools can be designed according to individual needs.
7. Hay Pitch Fork Wrapped with Hardware Cloth: Wrapping a hay pitchfork with hardware cloth and securing it with zip ties creates a faster and more efficient tool for scooping larger amounts of poop.
8. Shovel with Holes Throughout: A shovel with holes in the blade allows the sand to sift through while the poop remains on top. This tool is useful for quickly cleaning larger areas.

It’s essential to find a tool that works for your specific needs and the size of your coop. Some tools work better for smaller areas, while others are more efficient for larger areas. It’s also important to keep in mind that some tools may require more physical effort than others.

Ultimately, finding the right tool will make cleaning your coop a more manageable and less time-consuming task.