30+ year old chicken barn

[segeine]

I live on an old chicken farm. There haven't been any chickens here for well over 30 years, and the equipment has long since been removed from the barn. We have used the space for storage for a number of years, including the lumber we want to use to build a coop for our new chicks. However, it just occurred to me that the materials may have picked up diseases or whatever, just from being in the barn. I was also considering housing them in there in the winter, but I don't want to hurt them.

 

[Folly's place]

Thirty years is a long time, but I don't know to answer your question. Call your state veterinary expert; in Michigan, I would call Dr. Fulton at the MSU Path Lab. My quess is that it's okay, but I would call a real expert to be sure. Mary

 

[segeine]

Thank you for your response, Mary. I am in NY, maybe someone at Cornell will be able to tell me. I will post any reply I get, in case it can help someone else.

 

[segeine]

Here is the answer I received from Cornell:

I would think after that length of time there wouldn’t be any issues. Is there manure on the lumber? Even from other animals? If yes, then scrape it off, hose it off and let it dry in the sun.
Nancy
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Nancy Glazier
Small Farms, Livestock
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops Team
Cornell University Cooperative Extension
417 Liberty St., Suite 1024
Penn Yan, NY 14527
(o) 315.536.5123, (c) 585.315.7746
www.nwnyteam.org
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