Chick pen & contagious illness

[fatcatx]

I have a separate pen (away from regular coop) that I use as a grow out pen for chicks. I've used it about 4 times in the last 6 years. Each time I've raked as much sand as I could out of it and replaced it. It's been almost a year since I last used it. Is the sand replacement necessary? I was doing it not just for cleaning purposes but a measure of biosecurity. However I've never had any contagious illness in the pen or in my (very small) flock.

am I ok just raking it out and calling it good? What potential diseases can lie dormant for a year?

 

[Folly's place]

Marek's disease lasts a long time, otherwise not a problem. To be paranoid about it, wild birds visiting the area very recently could bring something in, but I wouldn't fret about that, unless you are seeing sick wild birds. It's not possible to control absolutely everything!
Mary

 

[fatcatx]

Thanks Mary. That is what I was thinking but I wanted to be sure I was not overlooking something.