Lift-out manure catch tray

Collect droppings below an existing roost in a removable washable-lined tray, independently of the roost structure.

Editorial construction draft. Original digital diagrams; no physical build or load certification. Read dimensions, fit and use limits before making changes. US customary dimensions control; metric values are references.

Before marking and cutting

• Read every step and identify the installed orientation. Make the component off-site with birds excluded.
• Measure the actual receiving space, chosen commercial accessories and access route. Stop if the example does not fit; changing only one member can invalidate the assembly.
• Reject split, warped, moldy or chemically contaminated stock. Keep exposed mesh cut ends and all sharp fasteners inaccessible to birds.
• The drawing dimensions control; illustrations are not full-size templates. Allow a saw kerf between parts when laying out stock.

Use limits

• No person may stand or sit on this component. No tested load rating is claimed.
• A site-specific safe location and supervision are required; remove it if birds become trapped, peck damaged material, or cannot use their normal feed, water, shelter and escape routes.

Materials and cuts

Hardware and consumables

• 26 × #8 corrosion-resistant exterior wood screw 1 1/4 in (31.75 mm). Wood joints. Use compatible coatings/metals and the maker's pilot-hole guidance; do not substitute drywall screws.
• 2 × Flush exterior pull with short compatible screws. Outside handles; selected fasteners must not penetrate the inner surface
• Removable 1/16–1/8 in (1.6–3.2 mm) polypropylene liner; not counted as structural bracing

Tools

• Tape measure, square and pencil
• Saw appropriate to material and work supports
• Drill/driver, countersink and pilot bits selected for the screws
• Clamps, sanding block and eye/hearing protection; dust control appropriate to the material

Assembly

1. Cut bottom A to 36 × 24 in (914.4 × 609.6 mm) from actual 1/2 in plywood; mark its upper face.
2. Cut two B sides to 24 × 3 1/2 in (609.6 × 88.9 mm) and C/D to 35 × 3 1/2 in (889 × 88.9 mm).
3. Dry-fit B on top of A with the outer faces flush with A's long sides. C and D fit between B, not outside them.
4. Mark bottom-to-wall screw lines 1/4 in (6.4 mm) inward from each bottom edge. Keep the first and last fastener 1 in (25.4 mm) from the corners.
5. Clamp B square and drive four 1 1/4 in screws through the underside of A into each B edge at equally spaced positions.
6. Clamp C and D between B; drive five 1 1/4 in screws through A into each front/back lower edge.
7. Drive two 1 1/4 in screws through each B end into C or D, at 1 and 2 1/2 in (25.4 and 63.5 mm) above A.
8. Make a removable one-piece polypropylene liner 34 7/8 × 22 7/8 in (885.8 × 581 mm), rounding its corners so it clears the 35 × 23 in internal floor.
9. Attach one bought flush pull to the outside center of each B with maker-matched short fasteners. Do not cut hand holes that can snag birds.

10. Seal plywood edges with a suitable fully cured coating, then install the liner loose; do not glue down a surface that must be removed to dry.
11. Locate the tray on a level supported floor below the soiling zone. Ensure its 4 in (101.6 mm) total height does not create a trapping gap or obstruct a landing path.
12. With birds absent, lift it empty through the actual exit route. Clean frequently enough that material never makes the tray unmanageable; carry by both pulls.

Checks

• The outside plan remains 36 × 24 in; the internal liner space is 35 × 23 in.
• The liner lifts freely, and no bottom screw emerges above a wall edge.
• Empty tray exits the coop without tipping through a bird opening.
• Pulls are secure; no wire, sharp edge or trapping gap remains at the chosen location.

Cleaning and maintenance

• Inspect before each use for splits, loose joints, protruding points and trapped debris.
• Remove accumulated litter or manure promptly. When cleaning is needed, move birds away, remove debris first, wash and use only a suitable label-directed product if disinfection is indicated; let the item dry before return.
• Recheck the fit after seasonal wood movement. Replace cracked panels, rusted fasteners or frayed liners instead of concealing damage.
• Sand accessible edges to a small smooth radius. Use a removable washable contact liner where specified. Any optional coating must be suitable for the intended animal-equipment use and fully cured according to its label before installation. Porous wood is not represented as a disinfectable food-contact surface.

Primary context

These sources inform the context and do not endorse the original construction design.

• S1 · Caring for chickens in cold weather
• S2 · Build a Clean Routine