Moving chickens into a used coop

[meggers38]

Hello there, we are in the process of moving and taking our chickens with us. The place we are moving has an existing coop that hasn't had chickens in it for 2 months. We plan on disinfecting it, but is there any other precautions we should take? Is 2 months long enough to move another small flock of chickens into it?

Thanks!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Spray the coop with a liquid permethrin or ravap, something approved for poultry twice, one week apart, to kill mites that could be hiding in the cracks. They are sold at the feed stores.

The red mite can live for 9 months with no blood meal. The Northern Fowl Mite (lives mostly on the birds) lives for 3 weeks with no blood meal. Lice also die fast off the chicken. So the red mite is the one you are spraying for. Make sure you get under the roosts.

Also, since your hens will be moving onto new soil, keep a look out for coccidiosis in your hens, and also worms. Try to notice if you see diarrhea, lethargy, or signs of illness. Worm eggs can stay in the soil for a year or more. Just be alert and treat only if illness crops up.

 

[meggers38]

Thank you for your reply! That was very helpful.