How to clean out a previously used coop?

[LydiaWitman]

You're welcome. I hope it works out for you.

I do think that given the fairly heavy soiling sealing it in with paint and whitewash is a good idea.

Thank you! OK so it is definitely heavy soiling -- I thought so but I wasn't sure.

 

[aart]

Scraping it down and vacuuming should do the trick.
Painting would take much more cleaning and prep to make sure the pain sticks.
Guess it depend on how 'clean' you want to get and keep things.

I'd revamp nests and roosts to be lower and meshing off ceiling to keep them from roosting in the rafters.

 

[LydiaWitman]

Scraping it down and vacuuming should do the trick.
Painting would take much more cleaning and prep to make sure the pain sticks.
Guess it depend on how 'clean' you want to get and keep things.

I'd revamp nests and roosts to be lower and meshing off ceiling to keep them from roosting in the rafters.

Thanks aart! I read somewhere that the nesting boxes should be 3 feet off the floor but the thread in BYC about nesting boxes says they can be on the ground. Do you have thoughts on how high/low the nests should be?

Great idea to mesh off the rafters -- I want to give them some nice roosting perches anyway (sorry if I'm using the wrong terms -- I will learn eventually!)

 

[aart]

Do you have thoughts on how high/low the nests should be?

I do.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-stuff-works-well.73427/

 

[Vickischics]

Thank you Vickischics for the awesome advice! I love Permethrin for treating my clothes (we have a lot of ticks here in central Virginia U.S.A.) and I wouldn't have thought of using it to treat the coop but that is a GREAT idea, thank you!!

Gotcha re dampness/water. Other commentors said the same thing. And in summer in central Virginia it's very humid so it would take forever for the coop to dry! And thanks for the tip re Kilts primer and the N95 mask and goggles!!

Here are some pictures of how poopy it is - would you scrape and vacuum this?

Thank you Mellowmalt for the tips! Here are some pics of how poopy it is -- would you scrape and brush this?

Thank you..
Yup, your new found coop is pretty nasty. Perhaps @aart has some insight of how long certain disease remains active as, I saw dried runny poop on those high roost and I'm wondering if blood was in that mess. I would don my gloves, googles and mask and take a stiff brush to that coop and at the end of the day, I'd shower and get ready to go out to eat. Lol
Using a good stiff brush and a portable shop vacuum should do the trick.
I believe you have a special place in the works plus it's in good shape.
I'm so excited for you. I see cuteness in your backyard already! Hey my brother lives in Appomattox but, doesn't have chickens. But, he sure has coyotes and a bear that passes through.
Keep us posted, I'm following your progress.
Taadah!!