You can use bleach, Pine-Sol or other household cleaners, but they may leave behind a harmful residue for chicks...? Scrubbing with a neutral cleaner like dish soap and hot water would also work. When dry, a light spray of vinegar, followed by another spray of hydrogen peroxide (or vice versa) will do a great job sanitizing. Just don't mix them both in the same sprayer. Complete details here:
http://www.michaelandjudystouffer.com/judy/articles/vinegar.htm
Vinegar can be corrosive to certain metals with prolonged exposure. You can neutralize the vinegar by mixing with a little baking soda.
Might be a good idea to also clean the shed as well. Or you could even brood your chicks right in the shed/coop to start with. They won't need the roosts or nests for a few months. Check here: You Certainly Can Brood Chicks Outdoors and here: Start Raising Your Chicks Outdoors
You'll probably only need 6-8 nest boxes for 24 hens. There are tons of ideas here in the coop section, or you can start a new thread asking to see pictures of everyone's free-standing nest boxes. The roosts could be as simple as a ladder leaning against the wall, or a much wider version that you build yourself. Keep in mind you need at least 12" or more per bird, so might be a tight fit for 24. You want them spaced far enough apart to keep chickens from pooping on each other.
http://www.michaelandjudystouffer.com/judy/articles/vinegar.htm
Vinegar can be corrosive to certain metals with prolonged exposure. You can neutralize the vinegar by mixing with a little baking soda.
Might be a good idea to also clean the shed as well. Or you could even brood your chicks right in the shed/coop to start with. They won't need the roosts or nests for a few months. Check here: You Certainly Can Brood Chicks Outdoors and here: Start Raising Your Chicks Outdoors
You'll probably only need 6-8 nest boxes for 24 hens. There are tons of ideas here in the coop section, or you can start a new thread asking to see pictures of everyone's free-standing nest boxes. The roosts could be as simple as a ladder leaning against the wall, or a much wider version that you build yourself. Keep in mind you need at least 12" or more per bird, so might be a tight fit for 24. You want them spaced far enough apart to keep chickens from pooping on each other.
We are glad you joined this flock!
