Used Prefab

[Poodlemum]

I am very not handy lol. We were gifted a prefab to get our chicks outside since it’s taking us longer than expected to get a proper coop built. It needs cleaning out, can I just hose it down or will that ruin the wood? I know it’s cheap materials and not meant to last, but we just need it for a few weeks til they’re big enough for our big chickens or we make another coop

 

[SilkieChicken123]

I am very not handy lol. We were gifted a prefab to get our chicks outside since it’s taking us longer than expected to get a proper coop built. It needs cleaning out, can I just hose it down or will that ruin the wood? I know it’s cheap materials and not meant to last, but we just need it for a few weeks til they’re big enough for our big chickens or we make another coop

But to play safe- don't rinse it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I would not wet it if it can be avoided. If there's dry soiling inside, a paint scraper and a broom should suffice to get any poop off the surfaces.

If you do not know the source of the coop and are concerned that there could be germs/diseases then you may want to use something other than strictly water to clean off the surfaces. I've heard of using diluted bleach, or diluted vinegar, or Virkon, to disinfect the surfaces.

 

[Poodlemum]

Thank you, it’s coming along great with a good wire brush

 

[mrtoren]

How long since the last chickens resided in it? If the coop was used fairly recently, it could transmit all sorts of nastiness to your flock. I would bleach it thoroughly.

 

[Poodlemum]

How long since the last chickens resided in it? If the coop was used fairly recently, it could transmit all sorts of nastiness to your flock. I would bleach it thoroughly.

Supposedly spring, but who knows what other critters were in it during storage. I bleached it down just in case!

 

[Poodlemum]

Now to just get them to figure out the ramp…

 

[rosemarythyme]

Now to just get them to figure out the ramp…

Some ramps are on the steep side which gives chickens trouble navigating it. Try propping up the bottom end on a cinderblock to reduce the angle.