Inherited Large (for me) chicken coop, uncleaned.

[stephenthayer61]

My Family and I bought a former (5.8 acre) hobby farm. I mostly wanted the land as it was wooded. We have 5 kids from 16-8.
I inherited (was here when we moved in) a fairly large coop that is two stories high and had automatically times doors for free ranging the birds. The doors and timers are still there it’s just there is no power hooked to em. I can fix those later.

The previous owners, I was told had 24 chickens in there. I have had so much to do and still have tons of work to go and until 5 weeks ago had no chickens. I made the mistake of taking the kids to TSC and we came home w 7 Easter Egger Pullets. I know we definitely have at least one rooster already, He is way bigger then the rest, is getting a noticeable comb already and has the saddle feathers. Today I noticed what I thought was a bigger hen, maybe a cockrel too. He would run up to me when outside and also challenges me when I go into the brooder. The rooster does not act aggressive at all yet. I’m going to cull one, just wanna see which is tamer due to having a standoff w the neighbors roo late last fall. I don’t want him chasing the kids or becoming aggressive with them at all.
Anyhow, I need to move these Chicks into this empty Coop. I really don’t know where to start as there is a lot of feathers and I’m sure Poop too alll over it. The run still needs repair to make it predator proof, I live on almost 6 acres in the woods w neighbors each having 3 acres and behind me is 200 acres of woods. I love it and wanna raise healthy chickens for years to come. I know I jumped into this, I did some research last fall. But since we bought em, we haven’t had any issues w health or behavior.

Anyway, I only have off tomorrow from work and need to get them into the coop. Where and how should I start. How clean should I get the coop. I can post more pics tmmrw when I start cleaning, but those pics were taken to out the coop on Craigs List for Free, I was just gonna get a new, smaller coop to start. I removed about 1/2 the old structures and have way more room now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I live in Cecil County, Md now! Thank you!

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC. Where, in general, are you? Climate matters, especially when it comes to housing.

Since it's been unused for 6 months I'd honestly just go for a surface clean - broom, paint scraper & shop vac (or blower), getting out as much old bedding, poop, etc as possible.

A dry clean is my preference, no worries about waiting for things to dry out, and since it's been quite a while since it was last occupied you're at lower risk of disease/pests/etc. still being active.

I agree with this.

As a general rule, dry chickens are healthy chickens and the wet-cleaning of a chicken coop should only be done out of dire necessity.

I’m going to cull one, just wanna see which is tamer due to having a standoff w the neighbors roo late last fall.

Because these are your first chickens and because you have young children I strongly suggest that you cull/rehome all males for the first year while you learn chicken-keeping. Aggressive cockerels/roosters have ruined the chicken experience for many people and can present an active danger, particularly to young children, because they go for the face/eyes when attacking.

Additionally, a cockerel raised in a flock with adults learns better chicken manners as he grows than a cockerel who grows up as the biggest, toughest thing in the flock of his age-peer pullets.

This is the advice I was given and it's worked out very well for me.

 

[rosemarythyme]

As far as the coop goes, how clean is clean? Like spic and span ? Or getting rid or old bedding, feathers, hard poop thats caked on places ? Shop Vac and a Leaf Blower? I have never been on the second story, my kids have and say it looks like the bottom, it looks like a 2-3 hour job if its just me..

The property and structures sat empty for 6 months, we moved in and I had a ton of other priorities first.

Since it's been unused for 6 months I'd honestly just go for a surface clean - broom, paint scraper & shop vac (or blower), getting out as much old bedding, poop, etc as possible.

A dry clean is my preference, no worries about waiting for things to dry out, and since it's been quite a while since it was last occupied you're at lower risk of disease/pests/etc. still being active.

 

[saysfaa]

I would prioritize keeping the snakes out over cleaning it. That would be hardware cloth over any hole bigger than a half inch (after you make any repairs of holes. Snakes, or a different predator coming out of the woods, eating the chicks would worry me far more than year old poop in it.

If there is time for more, I would do the dry scraping too. Whitewash is good at disinfecting and against mites so worth doing if you can find the right kind of lime and can hold off moving the chicks in until tomorrow or the next day. I wouldn't consider it essential before moving them in, though. It is more risk but I think it still a low risk.

 

[stephenthayer61]

Welcome to BYC. Where, in general, are you? Climate matters, especially when it comes to housing.



I agree with this.

As a general rule, dry chickens are healthy chickens and the wet-cleaning of a chicken coop should only be done out of dire necessity.



Because these are your first chickens and because you have young children I strongly suggest that you cull/rehome all males for the first year while you learn chicken-keeping. Aggressive cockerels/roosters have ruined the chicken experience for many people and can present an active danger, particularly to young children, because they go for the face/eyes when attacking.

Additionally, a cockerel raised in a flock with adults learns better chicken manners as he grows than a cockerel who grows up as the biggest, toughest thing in the flock of his age-peer pullets.

This is the advice I was given and it's worked out very well for me.

After working 12 hours last night, then a few errands were done. I started to clena at 11a. This first floor was filthy. Poop treys had about 6lbs of Pooh on them each.

I highly doubt that coop has ever been cleaned. I had to shuck, push and scrape the dirt and hay off the floor. It was disgusting. I brought two buckets and rinsed off the wood floor after aggressively cleaning the floor, let it dry and placed 3 packs of pine shavings down. The other half of the run and brooding area needs fixing to protect vs predators, but the main house is 100% secure. They are running around in there chasing all kinds of bugs and eating grass that’s in the front run.

I didn’t get upstairs yet either. I wore a respirator but, goggles, gloves and long sleeves. Even wore a hair net. That was no fun but it’s done!

Thanks for all the advice !

 

[raingarden]

Scrubbing off hard baked on chicken poop is almost impossible. I'd just scrape everything down to get the high spots, sweep, and either nuke with bleach or whitewash the inside. .Poop on the outside exposed to rain should be breaking down on it's own; no?.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

My Family and I bought a former (5.8 acre) hobby farm. I mostly wanted the land as it was wooded. We have 5 kids from 16-8.
I inherited (was here when we moved in) a fairly large coop that is two stories high and had automatically times doors for free ranging the birds. The doors and timers are still there it’s just there is no power hooked to em. I can fix those later.

The previous owners, I was told had 24 chickens in there. I have had so much to do and still have tons of work to go and until 5 weeks ago had no chickens. I made the mistake of taking the kids to TSC and we came home w 7 Easter Egger Pullets. I know we definitely have at least one rooster already, He is way bigger then the rest, is getting a noticeable comb already and has the saddle feathers. Today I noticed what I thought was a bigger hen, maybe a cockrel too. He would run up to me when outside and also challenges me when I go into the brooder. The rooster does not act aggressive at all yet. I’m going to cull one, just wanna see which is tamer due to having a standoff w the neighbors roo late last fall. I don’t want him chasing the kids or becoming aggressive with them at all.
Anyhow, I need to move these Chicks into this empty Coop. I really don’t know where to start as there is a lot of feathers and I’m sure Poop too alll over it. The run still needs repair to make it predator proof, I live on almost 6 acres in the woods w neighbors each having 3 acres and behind me is 200 acres of woods. I love it and wanna raise healthy chickens for years to come. I know I jumped into this, I did some research last fall. But since we bought em, we haven’t had any issues w health or behavior.

Anyway, I only have off tomorrow from work and need to get them into the coop. Where and how should I start. How clean should I get the coop. I can post more pics tmmrw when I start cleaning, but those pics were taken to out the coop on Craigs List for Free, I was just gonna get a new, smaller coop to start. I removed about 1/2 the old structures and have way more room now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I live in Cecil County, Md now! Thank you!

I think you should keep this large coop. You can never have too much space, and it seems to be in good shape.

 

[Alagirl]

We are going to paint the exterior to match the houses' new siding. Probably next weekend, nothing fancy, just sprucing it up. I have tons or predators, Hawks, Bald Eagles, Foxes and I believe there is a Coyote or two in the woods behind us.

As far as the coop goes, how clean is clean? Like spic and span ? Or getting rid or old bedding, feathers, hard poop thats caked on places ? Shop Vac and a Leaf Blower? I have never been on the second story, my kids have and say it looks like the bottom, it looks like a 2-3 hour job if its just me..

a beginner myself, in your case I would go with 'thorough' right now: poop and feather removal and a good scrub with a decent cleaner/disinfectant.
Just to be safe.
There might be some elbow grease involved (perhaps done masks to not inhale any sh*t?)

 

[T-R-O-U-B-L-E]

I don't know about what disinfectant you should use, but I would like to say that is a nice looking coop.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Actually, its been vacant for a little over a year now, they vacated in April of 2021. I think thats easier too, but I gotta get in there with a mask on to inspect.

Vacant for a year is even better!

And yes I'd mask up for sure - when cleaning my coop I wear old clothes slated for the garbage and tuck in the shirt, tuck pants into boots, plus a mask, goggles, shower cap over hair and ears. It's amazing how much dust and dander accumulates in a coop.