cleaning coop

[Bcampo]

Hi all,
i’m getting ready for the big spring clean on my elevated coop. Have any of you installed a floor drain to sweep the dirty water into? after washing it down? i usually use a wet/dry vac but was thinking this might be easier. if so how did you rodent proof it?
thank you!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Any particular reason you want to wash the coop? Best clean in most cases is a dry clean - I use a leaf blower to get loose dust out, rake out the old bedding, use a broom to get out most of the remaining bedding dust, paint scraper if any "bits" are stuck, and that's it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

first I use the leaf blower to get rid of all dust (wear a mask!!!)

Oh yes, absolutely use a mask (and goggles if you can stand it). I also suit up with old pants and long sleeve shirts from hubby's toss pile, boots, gloves, and an old shower cap to protect hair and ears. As I clean once a year the amount of dust inside the coop is insane when it all gets stirred up, so the more you cover up the better.

 

[Shezadandy]

Hi all,
i’m getting ready for the big spring clean on my elevated coop. Have any of you installed a floor drain to sweep the dirty water into? after washing it down? i usually use a wet/dry vac but was thinking this might be easier. if so how did you rodent proof it?
thank you!

Here and there I do a wall-wash in my coop because my chickens are professional poop-painters. Use pine bedding pellets at the base of your walls to soak up the moisture.

Also- don't use a hose. Get a cheap garden type sprayer like this one: https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-2-Gal-Pump-Sprayer-1502HDXA/307766539 -- very efficient and will reduce the amount of water you use while getting the job done. You can use a little dish soap if need be.

Otherwise I usually do as others have suggested - first I use the leaf blower to get rid of all dust (wear a mask!!!), starting with roof panels and rafters on down - might have to do it in stages. Collect the majority of the nesting/bedding material, use the blower on everything then re-bed.

 

[aart]

i’ve used the blower before but it seems to just stir it up instead of remove it.

Really...where does it go?

How about vacuuming?

MUCH more efficient. I use the shop vac once a year or so, definitely clean the filter afterwards(I use the air compressor for that).

 

[aart]

Then shop vac.
Then open everything up and leaf blow.

Why blow when the vac probably got it all?
I still can't imagine that what's blown all goes out the windows.
RonP had his coop pressurized enough with two blower motors that it did all go out a couple open windows. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/dust-no-more.68161/#ams-comment-511298

I went in, two big hens were having a fine dust bath on the poop boards. They were both rather unceremoniously tossed out the door.

I hate it when they do that!
Why I keep the PDZ in a thin layer.

 

[rosemarythyme]

well this will make my life easier! i thought a yearly wash down was a must! i’ve used the blower before but it seems to just stir it up instead of remove it. How about vacuuming?

Probably depends on how you blow it. Vacuuming works for a lot of folks, but I passed on a free shop vac (garage is getting full!) so I still use a blower. I just blow right out the door and anything up high goes out the vents in and under the roof.

Note that that only gets the surface dust. Broom handles the rest. I don't need it perfect. If the chickens can live with a bit of dust, so can I.

 

[Shezadandy]

Oh yes, absolutely use a mask (and goggles if you can stand it). I also suit up with old pants and long sleeve shirts from hubby's toss pile, boots, gloves, and an old shower cap to protect hair and ears. As I clean once a year the amount of dust inside the coop is insane when it all gets stirred up, so the more you cover up the better.

Yep! Actually I just head straight for the shower - there's a whole pile of clothes devoted to painting and deep cleaning the coop. Thankfully the ventilation fan helps spit the dust back outside but it's a dreaded task, even after just a couple of months.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Here and there I do a wall-wash in my coop because my chickens are professional poop-painters. Use pine bedding pellets at the base of your walls to soak up the moisture.

Also- don't use a hose. Get a cheap garden type sprayer like this one: https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-2-Gal-Pump-Sprayer-1502HDXA/307766539 -- very efficient and will reduce the amount of water you use while getting the job done. You can use a little dish soap if need be.

Otherwise I usually do as others have suggested - first I use the leaf blower to get rid of all dust (wear a mask!!!), starting with roof panels and rafters on down - might have to do it in stages. Collect the majority of the nesting/bedding material, use the blower on everything then re-bed.

This is a great routine! Great idea using the pellets. Never even occurred to me.

I suppose a drain would do something similar. Might be worth a try! I just know that wet = bad juju here.

 

[Bcampo]

well this will make my life easier! i thought a yearly wash down was a must! i’ve used the blower before but it seems to just stir it up instead of remove it. How about vacuuming?