I wasn't sure whether to post this here or on the disease forum, since it kind of applies to both.... obviously here won.
I'm converting a small shed into a chicken coop. On our property there is also a large barn/shed/garage that is a kind of confusing building. It's got two large front doors, like old garage doors (but double swing out doors, not roll up). It's got a loft that appears (to my best guess) to have been used to raise pigeons in the past (and btw, I thought about doing this as well, since I have the setup, but after reading decided I would simply be supplying the large population of hawks in our area with a few nice meals if I did...). The main area of the shed is divided weirdly, like in the past it's been a garage, a workshop, and possibly even more poultry housing. BUT the nest boxes, while not pigeon high (and there are nest boxes in the loft for them), are higher than normal for chickens- the bottom was more than four feet off the ground. And the part of the shed that they're in is NOT where I would guess chickens had ever been kept. There are two pop doors (a large one and a small one), but they're on the far other side. But I know they were nest boxes and not just similarly shaped and sized storage cubbies because 1) they are built exactly to nest box specs- 12x12, lip in front, slanted top, and 2) there was a little caked on straw/gunk in the bottom of each, and some dried up bird droppings on the front. I really wish I could talk to the people who have lived here over the years and ask them what they have done with the building...
Anyway, to my question...
Particularly because of the caked on gunk and old droppings, is it safe for me to use these? It's been 2 years or more (and likely much more) since they've been used. And I've already pulled it off the wall, scrubbed it out with bleach, and then topped that off with a vinegar/tea tree oil mixture I use in my house for sanitizing. But I just wanted to check and see if 1) anyone might be able to tell what kind of fowl would nest that high in chicken sized boxes, and 2) if such fowl could potentially pass on diseases to my chickens. I would love to be able to use this as it is the EXACT size I need for my shed, and it sure beats buying new materials and building one myself. Anyone have any thoughts?
I'm converting a small shed into a chicken coop. On our property there is also a large barn/shed/garage that is a kind of confusing building. It's got two large front doors, like old garage doors (but double swing out doors, not roll up). It's got a loft that appears (to my best guess) to have been used to raise pigeons in the past (and btw, I thought about doing this as well, since I have the setup, but after reading decided I would simply be supplying the large population of hawks in our area with a few nice meals if I did...). The main area of the shed is divided weirdly, like in the past it's been a garage, a workshop, and possibly even more poultry housing. BUT the nest boxes, while not pigeon high (and there are nest boxes in the loft for them), are higher than normal for chickens- the bottom was more than four feet off the ground. And the part of the shed that they're in is NOT where I would guess chickens had ever been kept. There are two pop doors (a large one and a small one), but they're on the far other side. But I know they were nest boxes and not just similarly shaped and sized storage cubbies because 1) they are built exactly to nest box specs- 12x12, lip in front, slanted top, and 2) there was a little caked on straw/gunk in the bottom of each, and some dried up bird droppings on the front. I really wish I could talk to the people who have lived here over the years and ask them what they have done with the building...
Anyway, to my question...
Particularly because of the caked on gunk and old droppings, is it safe for me to use these? It's been 2 years or more (and likely much more) since they've been used. And I've already pulled it off the wall, scrubbed it out with bleach, and then topped that off with a vinegar/tea tree oil mixture I use in my house for sanitizing. But I just wanted to check and see if 1) anyone might be able to tell what kind of fowl would nest that high in chicken sized boxes, and 2) if such fowl could potentially pass on diseases to my chickens. I would love to be able to use this as it is the EXACT size I need for my shed, and it sure beats buying new materials and building one myself. Anyone have any thoughts?
