some questions about our coop!

[vsmenagerie]

We recently moved here and there is a chicken coop, just waiting for chickens! Ive gone in and cleaned it, but plan on doing another scrub down in the next day or so.

a couple of questions!

1. What could I spray it down with, to sort of, sanitize it? That is safe for the chickens? It was pretty gross when I got in it.

2. what is good for the floor of the coop? I was thinking shavings? there is a concrete floor in there. We will be putting in a drain, because the floor sort of slopes, and when I hosed it out, the water just stuck in a corner lol But Im sure it needs something on the floor for them to walk on.

3. roosts. Should I redo these? one needs to be reattached, but if it would better to just put some new boards or something that will be better, I can do that!

4. the nest boxes. They had shavings in them. Good or is there something better? Straw maybe? and any tweaking that needs done there?

and the run. Its FULL of weeds. Should we cut or pull them? anything else it may need before I add any chickens? Im making a list of what I need to do before I put anyone out there.

Some pictures! I havent gotten a good after picture, so this is the "before"

the floor. "before"

and "after"

my daughter helping

The entire run has the wood around it, along with fencing. And the top is covered with fencing!

and the run, full of weeds!

inside the coop. Its a lot nicer looking now lol

thanks for any help and advice you can give me!

 

[Frost Homestead]

I would just spray it down with water and scrub with a stiff brush. Rinse and let it dry. Maybe someone else can suggest something to sanitize it with...

I like sand for the floor of the coop (not like playground sand but like creek sand with pebbles). It's a LOT easier to clean than wood chips or straw/hay. I always see horrible things about chickens eating hay and their crops getting impacted so I never use it. When it needs cleaning you can rake it and if you want you can always spray down the substrate to clean it once you get the drain set up or somewhere for the water to flow out of the coop space.

As far as the roosts go, I would go ahead and replace them with round rods. Better for the chickens feet. Oh and shavings for the nest boxes. Leave the weeds for your chickens, they will love them! Chickens love to eat greens and the magnesium is great for them.

edited for typo.

 

[vsmenagerie]

Thanks!! I will look for sand then

My husband uncle works for a rock crusher, so they may have something? There is a creek near the chicken area..wonder if it has sand?

Next time I head to town, I'll pick up some dowels. Is there a certain diameter that is better? I'll have to do more searching!

and phew. I did not really want to pull those weeds. My garden area is full enough!

 

[WestfarthingHomestead]

Wow! Very brave of you. I'm sure it'll be great. I'd go at it with a powerhouse, a pitchfork, and, hey, I just used the scrubbing bubbles kind of bathroom cleaner because it said it kills 99% of all germs. I figured the chemicals would all evaporate by the time the birdies moved in anyway. I think bleach-water is the safest bet, since that's used to disinfect daycares. Just get your ratios right.

 

[karlamaria]

Love the coop! I would replace but I prefer 2x4 s they can roost better as they can get there feet under them to keep warm . Montana is cold darn cold a flat roost to me is best. And I use wood shaving. I love them and I think there easier to clean as you can do the deep litter method in winter to. ( read deep liter method) I also do shavings in my nests, now if only my girls would lay lol, soon very soon now as there showing signs of laying. There still young but I would say in the next few weeks all will be laying. That run is awesome. I would mow it down some unless you get bigger pullets and then let them go to town and eat it. But if getting chicks I say mow it until there big girls then let them mow it the natural way, by eating it lol.

 

[itsmechrissy]

Wow, that's gonna hold a lot of chickens, you're doing a great job cleaning. I also use sand in my coop and run, love it. Just got some Sweet PDZ to sprinkle in periodically to keep odors away etc. According to many threads it works so we'll see! In my nesting box I use pine shavings, after reading in the 'emergencies, injuries, illiness' section on this site about crop surgury I'm staying away from Hay for sure!!!!!

Good luck!

 

[emys]

Scrub with a dilute bleach solution on the floor and roosts - flat surfaces are fine for roosting. After it is all dry, use some Sevin spray or chicken dust in all the corners and crevices to kill any mites or lice left over from the last birds.

I agree about the weeds. Just leave them there, the chickens will take them down for you.

 

[vsmenagerie]

It seems like they did hang out on the exposed 2x4's in the walls. Ive hosed it out pretty good, I just need to get a brush to take in and scrub. I'll stay away from hay then

Which works good for me, since I am allergic to it lol

 

[CatDaddyAlbert]

Quote:
Good Luck

 

[vsmenagerie]

Quote:
Good Luck

I wondered about just leaving it bare, and with the drain I want to add, Id have the ability to just hose it out as needed, while its warm enough for that anyhow! thank you