Two and a half years ago, I built my duck coop, the Kwack Howse. Before construction, I spent a lot of time researching best practices for duck housing and coop maintenance. During that process, I came across an article on the tradition of whitewashing and its role in keeping animal shelters clean and sanitary. The historical reasoning made sense—whitewash is breathable, naturally antimicrobial, and insect-repellent. So, after treating the wood with a waterproofing sealant, I applied a traditional Amish whitewash recipe to the interior walls of the house part of my coop.
Fast forward to two weeks ago: after a stretch of heavy rainfall, I discovered that the coop had become damp, stinky, and infested with flies and other insects. The condition was unpleasant for me and likely unhealthy for my ducks. It didn’t take long to realize that I had neglected to reapply whitewash annually, as is traditionally recommended.
Determined to fix things, I found a small bag of pickling lime in the garage, mixed a fresh batch of whitewash, and quickly repainted the entire interior of the coop—applying it directly over the poopy and stained areas. I also removed and replaced the old shavings.
Now, a week later, the difference is noticeable. While a few flies remain, they no longer settle on the freshly whitewashed surfaces. The coop is significantly cleaner, smells better, and feels like a safer space for the ducks once again.
This is the basic recipe I used although I cut it down to the amount of lime I had and only made about a quart. I originally bought the lime at the grocery store in the canning supplies.
To 1 gallon of warm water add 2 pounds of salt and 7 pounds of hydrated lime. Mix until the salt is dissolved. Apply with a paint brush.
I hope this helps someone else.
Coop without house ceiling showing first time white washing.
Kwack Howse
Inside after new coat of whitewash slopped on (right on top of poopy areas).
Fast forward to two weeks ago: after a stretch of heavy rainfall, I discovered that the coop had become damp, stinky, and infested with flies and other insects. The condition was unpleasant for me and likely unhealthy for my ducks. It didn’t take long to realize that I had neglected to reapply whitewash annually, as is traditionally recommended.
Determined to fix things, I found a small bag of pickling lime in the garage, mixed a fresh batch of whitewash, and quickly repainted the entire interior of the coop—applying it directly over the poopy and stained areas. I also removed and replaced the old shavings.
Now, a week later, the difference is noticeable. While a few flies remain, they no longer settle on the freshly whitewashed surfaces. The coop is significantly cleaner, smells better, and feels like a safer space for the ducks once again.
This is the basic recipe I used although I cut it down to the amount of lime I had and only made about a quart. I originally bought the lime at the grocery store in the canning supplies.
To 1 gallon of warm water add 2 pounds of salt and 7 pounds of hydrated lime. Mix until the salt is dissolved. Apply with a paint brush.
I hope this helps someone else.
Coop without house ceiling showing first time white washing.
Kwack Howse
Inside after new coat of whitewash slopped on (right on top of poopy areas).
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