Full Coop Clean Out

[Brooks_]

What is really needed? Is disinfection needed? It's the same birds going back in.

My plan: Remove old pine flakes. I'm on the fence for what to do with them. Into the run would be easiest, but we get a lot of rain so I'm not sure that would be very good. I can haul them to the woods; it's just more effort. Peppermint soap and water with a sun dry for things that can be washed. Fine sand paper or kitchen scrubbies for the roost bars and such. Shop vac out spiderwebs and dust (shh. I might even sneak the dyson out there ). Then reassemble. DE on the floor covered with fresh pine flakes.

Good enough? Not good enough? I had originally thought a yearly clean would suffice, but (limited) experience tells me twice yearly.

 

[Ruby Rogue]

Sounds about right....

I wouldn't bother with the scrub down unless you have some kind of infestation you're trying to eradicate..

 

[Brooks_]

Sounds about right....

I wouldn't bother with the scrub down unless you have some kind of infestation you're trying to eradicate..

I thought it would clean up the poop stains a little. Kinda like getting fresh sheets.

 

[icy_flames]

Sounds like a great plan to me! I'm getting ready to do a clean out once the winter snow storms are done. Probably beginning of April.

I would suggest one thing and that is to skip the DE. It's not necessary and can actually create respiratory problems.

 

[3KillerBs]

Just knock the cobwebs down with an old broom, shovel out as much of the old bedding as you can reasonably get up with your fork and/or scoop shovel, make a compost pile with the results, and put in new bedding.

If your birds are hitting the walls with their poop you probably need to move your roost further from the wall.

 

[3KillerBs]

P.S. Since dry chickens are healthy chickens it's almost never advisable to wet-clean a chicken coop. Only in extreme circumstances.

 

[rosemarythyme]

x2 on keeping things dry inside the coop. Even if I gave mine a full day to "dry" out it simply won't in my climate, which means chickens would be sitting in a damp coop.

Twice a year I rake/broom out old bedding directly into the run, use a paint scraper to scrape off any poop bits best I can, and fill with new bedding. Once a year I mask up/cover up completely and take a leaf blower in to blow off excess dust, which helps with ventilation too since there's window screens, 1/4" HWC, etc.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

I have a big coop with dirt floors, at about the 2 year mark I cleaned out the compost, I am going to do it again this year. When I bring the hose in to fill my big 55 gallon water tank I hose it down inside ceilings and all to try and knock the dust down. I live in a dry climate.

 

[aart]

Just knock the cobwebs down with an old broom, shovel out as much of the old bedding as you can reasonably get up with your fork and/or scoop shovel, make a compost pile with the results, and put in new bedding.

If your birds are hitting the walls with their poop you probably need to move your roost further from the wall.

P.S. Since dry chickens are healthy chickens it's almost never advisable to wet-clean a chicken coop. Only in extreme circumstances.

Ditto Both Dos^^^

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

it's almost never advisable to wet-clean a chicken coop.

My DLM would never work if I did not add water, my coop is VERY well ventilated with dirt floors. I wet it down about 4 to 6 times a year