Laundering chicken-pooped clothes and other stuff

[Carolyn252]

Six questions from a newbie: I don't have any chickens yet; they're coming to me next week. Two point-of-lay pullets. I'm curious about the pooping habits of chickens during the day, especially while they are on you. Other BYC's postings talk about their chickens hopping up to sit on the people's shoulders or arm, or walking into the kitchen from the porch, or sitting with them on their laps on the living room chair.
1-Do the chickens somehow naturally refrain from pooping when they are on people's laps and furniture?
2- If not, what's the normal range of frequency? (once an hour? or once every ten minutes or?)
3-Or do you all just get so "used to it" that you don't find it unbearably yukky anymore?
4-And how easy/difficult is it to wash the poop out of your clothes?
5-Do stains remain even after laundering?
6-and for those of you who take your chickens indoors sometimes, what cleaning solution do you use to wash it off your kitchen floor or off your furniture and stuff?
Note that I *have* seen lots of postings about buying and using chicken diapers; I want to know what happens when you *don't* use them.
Thanks.
-Carolyn

 

[GoldenSilverLaced]

1-Do the chickens somehow naturally refrain from pooping when they are on people's laps and furniture?

I kept mine indoors from when they were 1 day old until they were 4 months old before they were put out in their coop/run. They did not refrain from pooping anywhere. They were kept in a large dog cage in the kitchen, and whenever we let them out (every night) we secured the kitchen door and made blockades to keep them away from certain items. We also covered the floor with old towels and would wash the floor and towels often.

2- If not, what's the normal range of frequency? (once an hour? or once every ten minutes or?)

Depends how old they are -- frequent when they are smaller (10-20 min or so?) but as mine got older it is less frequent, probably because their food waste has a longer distance to travel.

3-Or do you all just get so "used to it" that you don't find it unbearably yukky anymore?

I have other birds, so I am used to it...except that chicken poop is larger and smells. So it is *not* ok for me to be pooped on. Parrot/finch poop does not smell and is relatively tiny.

4-And how easy/difficult is it to wash the poop out of your clothes? 5-Do stains remain even after laundering?

Easy. No stains. I wash on the hottest, most vigorous setting.

6-and for those of you who take your chickens indoors sometimes, what cleaning solution do you use to wash it off your kitchen floor or off your furniture and stuff?

I'm not allowed to bring them in anymore, so I can't properly answer that; however, diluted white vinegar is what I used, as it is non-toxic to the chickens. When they were put out for awhile, I would bleach the floor and make sure all of the scent/residue was gone when they were brought back in. I also am a fan of the anti-bacterial/viral cleansing cloths, to wipe down surfaces that get chicken-ized.​

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
1. No. They have no discretion
2. They poop whenever and wherever you least want them to. They are poop machines.
3. Yes
4. It comes out easily. I use laundry soap and vinegar
5. I have been lucky and have no stains.
6. Mine only come in when they are sick. Again, vinegar is great.

Word of warning: No other chicken poop is as bad as broody poop. Don't hold a broody too long!

 

[espressola]

I find any trace of chicken poo comes out easily in hot water washing... I do not use chicken diapers and don't sit around with chickens on me very much, but I do use towels in my "chicken hospital" and they wash right up, no problems!
Patty N. ;-)

 

[Superior Chicks]

A "normal" chicken (standard) will poop approximately 20 times a day, with 60- 70% of that 20 times occuring during the nocturnal hours. (That's why droppings boards in the coop are so effective.)

Every 8th to 10th poo will be ceacal poop, a mustard to dark brown runny liquid, which is totally normal.

If you are holding your chickens on your lap and they fall asleep, they will poop when they awake.

I've never had any problems removing poo stains from clothing, although I do wear "coop clothes" when I know I'll be spending time with them and holding them, which is alot every day. So I just stay in my coop clothes most of the day!

HTH

Ma

 

[Carolyn252]

I'm learning SO much from your replies. Keep 'em coming!
And thank you, thank you.
Means a lot to me (and my peace of mind.) I'll feel so much more confident about what's "normal and expected" when I get the chickens.
-Carolyn

 

[GardenerGal]

Poop happens.

You do get used to it after you've had to deal with it for a time. I used to get grossed out if I got some on my hands, clothes, or -- worst of all -- a chicken up on the rafters pooped on my head/hair (and it was one of those gooey cecal droppings). Ew. Now I wear a hat in the barn, always! And, if I somehow get poop in my hair I just go stick my head under the hose and squirt shampoo (what an appropriate name --- shamPOO!) on the messy part and just wash my hair.

I'd say that anyone who has had a baby gets used to poop quickly, especially when it's your child.

When the chickens are yours and you enjoy having them, poop becomes just one part of keeping chickens.

I think of chicken droppings as future compost fertilizer for my gardens. That helps to actually look forward to "harvesting" it every day when I clean the barn.

Stains from poop have always come out in my laundry just using ordinary detergent. For getting the smell of poop off your hands (it gets into the little nooks and crannies, including nail cuticles), use regular soap and water and scrub well, then rub a piece of lemon on any parts that still smell like poop. Or a little vinegar. And rinse again.

 

[nwgirl]

Quote:
1. Only in my dreams

2. They are poop machines!
3. Normal poops are tolerable, cecal poops make me cry

4. Its been very easy to wash out stains. I even use cold water!
5. No problems with stains.
6. When they were chicks I went through a lot of those Clorox wipes to spot clean the floor with in between mopping with vinegar.

I had a room with easy clean floors dedicated to raising my chicks. This allowed me to let them out once a day virtually worry free. I found it was best to follow behind and clean up after them for the first 10 minutes they were out, but then after that they didn't poo as much. Its like they held it in all day, waiting. I want to say, my chicks had tons of runny poo - it was the nastiest smelling stuff! I could never get used to it. Now that they are older though I don't see them having the running poo, and its not as fragrant as it used to be.

I'd also put a chick on an old towel and they'd nap while I watch TV in the evening. They have not been inside since they moved out to their coop though. I visit them outside and I too wear special coop clothes

 

[Judy]

Quote:

 

[Carolyn252]

You guys are so funny.
You lend me your wisdom *and* you make me laugh.
Thanks a million.
My first two chickens (point of lay) should be here on Tues or Wed.
-Carolyn