Coop Clean Out - Add Pesticides??

[akf93]

We do deep litter in our coop with pine shavings. We are getting ready to do our first clean out soon after about 6 months of use. No signs of any issues whatsoever but I’m curious if we should add any pesticides or anything to keep unwanted bugs or other issues away. We have chickens, guineas (for now), and ducks in there.

 

[3KillerBs]

IMO, don't fix what isn't broken.

If you don't have parasites, etc. why treat for them?

 

[SandyRiverChick]

x2 - Mainly because you are specifying "pesticide," I'd just say no for several reasons. First why take a chance on chickens eating something harmful, second, if you're putting this in your garden or compost or anywhere outside for that matter..... For "anything else," however, back when I let poo build up in my coop I'd toss a cup of DE on the floor after clean up. And I'd mix Sweet PDZ in with pines shavings as I let the poo collect in big plastic bins. I never had chicken issues but my poor coop that I worked so hard on did not fare well with this method. It is perfectly clean at all times now that I switched to poop boards with sand for daily clean-up.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Only treat if you have an infestation otherwise you risk the bugs growing an immunity to the pesticides and then you will have much bigger issues.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I would not unless I were treating for something specific. If you are doing deep litter you want good microbes in there. Don't kill them. If you are not doing deep litter you still have beneficial bugs and microbes in their environment. That is a healthy environment. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

[raingarden]

It's an ecosystem down there.