If you own chickens, you’re going to have to clean up their chicken coop an awful lot. Like other animal enclosures, there are specific ways in which a chicken coop can and should be cleaned. Certain considerations should be made, particularly when it comes to what agents are used to disinfect the coop.
This blog will explore the overall cleaning process and give a few useful pointers to help make the task easier for you, as well as make sure your chickens are happy and healthy in their chicken coop home.
Chicken Coop Cleaning Tips
Clean The Coop Frequently
Chickens walk, eat, sleep, and generally exist in the same space. Without regular cleaning, this is unsanitary for your feathered friends and creates a more difficult task for you. So make sure you perform a substantive cleaning of the coop once a week, touching up as needed in between deep cleanings.
Follow The Correct Order
The first step in cleaning a is to scrape away any feathers, dirt, droppings, or other debris. You must do this first because anything that has hardened to the floor or nest boxes won’t necessarily soften and become easily removable when the cleaning solution is applied. You may have to throw some elbow grease into it.
Rinse and disinfect the coop, allowing everything to air dry when the cleaning is complete and any remaining standing water is removed. Air drying allows for the disinfectant smell to dissipate and ensures that all of the damp surfaces have the opportunity to dry.
Once the coop is dry, lay down fresh hay or other nesting materials so that your feathered friends have somewhere warm and dry to sleep.
Depending on the amount of work required, any of these steps may need to be repeated.
Use Proper Cleaning Materials
When it comes to cleaning and disinfecting the space in which your chickens will spend much of their time, it is important to choose the safest option. Do not use bleach. Bleach is corrosive and can potentially be toxic to chickens if it hasn’t fully dried. Instead, mix up a natural cleaning agent using water and vinegar. The formula is a 1:1 mixture. This solution will provide the disinfecting effect that you need but won’t cause any harm to your chickens.
Perform Any Other Necessary Upkeep At This Time
As long as you’re in there cleaning the coop, take note of any yard fencing that needs mending so that your chickens have a secure place to run around when not inside their house.
A Final Word
Having chickens can be a lot of fun, but having chickens also requires a lot of upkeep. But if you clean the chicken coop in the proper order, using the proper materials, and with a regular frequency, your chickens will remain happy and healthy, and the overall work that goes into chicken upkeep may even be lessened because you have followed these steps and set yourself up for success.
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Thank you for reading our blog post. If you are looking for a new chicken coop or chicken house, then view our wide range, fit for all types of chickens. Contact us today on 01903 756121. Alternatively, send a message via our contact form.
