How to deep clean the coop and run?

[emilysrad]

(I tried searching on this, but kept getting info about just cleaning out poop, or using the deep litter method, but this is different...)

2 of my chickens have come down with similar symptoms (lethargy and yellow diarrhea, at least one has scaley feet). One passed away last week, and another just started showing symptoms today. So one's been buried, the other is in quarantine, and I'd like to DEEP clean my coop and run. I'm wondering what products or chemicals I should use. Here's my plan so far, please advise modifications.

The run is split into 2 sections, so first I'm going to move the netting so they're on the section that's been out of use for several months. Then I'm going to rake out the compost (I use straw in my runs) from the run that's in use and likely contaminated. Then I plan to add seeds and straw to the current-but-soon-to-be-old run to jump-start the natural decontamination process. Is there anything more I should do?

For cleaning the coop, I plan to clean out all the old bedding and straw, and I'd like to soak it with something, and then hose it out and let it air-dry. It's all unfinished wood inside, with some branches for roosts. So the corners are not caulked, and I think it's important to get to every nook and cranny. Thus, that's why I'm leaning toward a liquid that can easily penetrate into the cracks rather than just DE or something. So, I'm kind of freaked out about this spreading, and my mind instantly goes to "bleach it!" I don't use bleach barely ever, but this seems like a potentially appropriate time, just to kill everything. My second choice would be tea tree oil and vinegar solution.

Any thoughts?

Thanks a lot for your help!

PS- The 2 chickens that have gotten sick are my only two non-layers (haven't laid for 1 yr) so my main concern is with not spreading the sickness rather than reviving the one that's sick now.

 

[4 the Birds]

Bleach will pretty much kill anything if you want to deep clean the coop. You can also use it in the run but bleach will kill vegetation as well. If you have a power washer you use that with bleach or a bucket and mop (bucket of water and add a little bleach) will work fine. You can spray down with water after that as you mentioned in your plans. We clean our dog kennels with bleach and a power washer but I don't use it in the coop. I just rake all the pine chips/straw out a few times a year and replace for a full cleanout. Hope this helps.

 

[emilysrad]

Thanks, John. I appreciate your help. We just got a little herbicide sprayer recently so I'll clean that out and fill it up with bleach. Yay for our first deep clean.

 

[moetrout]

Pump sprayer and bleach/water solution, not pure bleach. Probably what you meant, but worth mentioning so others don't do that. When I use bleach to sterilize my beer bottles for home brewing the ratio is 1/4 cup per 5 gallons of water. For something like this I would probably go to 1 cup per 5 gallons of water.

 

[emilysrad]

Pump sprayer and bleach/water solution, not pure bleach. Probably what you meant, but worth mentioning so others don't do that. When I use bleach to sterilize my beer bottles for home brewing the ratio is 1/4 cup per 5 gallons of water. For something like this I would probably go to 1 cup per 5 gallons of water.

Haha good clarification, yes that's what i meant. Thanks for the approval of my plan!