Can baby chicks be put in a used chicken coop?

[mygerbilprince]

I am cleaning out my grandfathers old chicken coop and I was wondering if it would be okay for chicks to be exposed to previous chickens poop... in case I'm not able to scoop it all up?

 

[cmobley]

yeah theyll be fine.

 

[wordgirl]

How long has it been dormant?

 

[Artichoke Lover]

How long has it been dormant?

2x

 

[DuckWhisperer06]

Are you talking chicks fresh from the feed store? I think as long as there’s shavings or some type of fresh bedding they’ll be exposed to whatever was left rather slowly so I don’t see it being a problem.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Personally I would clean it out and then bleach it, let it sit an hour, rinse really good and then air it out for about a week maybe set up a fan in the doorway. This would be even if i was putting grown chickens in. But I’m also paranoid about that kind of stuff.

 

[DuckWhisperer06]

Can you post a picture of the coop?

 

[mygerbilprince]

How long has it been dormant?

Around 5 years...

 

[mygerbilprince]

Are you talking chicks fresh from the feed store? I think as long as there’s shavings or some type of fresh bedding they’ll be exposed to whatever was left rather slowly so I don’t see it being a problem.

Yes, I am adding lots shavings in.

 

[wordgirl]

I'm not a chicken pathology expert, but I think you'll be pretty safe if nothing has been living in there for 5 years. I'd do a decent job of cleaning out old waste but not over-worry about old germs. If wild birds/animals have been living in there, it's possible they might leave something fresher behind.

The new chicks will need a secure, draft-free area and a safe, reliable heat source when they're young. I put my chicks on paper towels the first few days before switch them to shavings to make sure they know what food is and lessen the chance that they'll eat a lot of shavings.