Small Farms

Yep folks, it is that time again.  If you’ve had your chickens outside this summer (free range eggs are tasty!), it is time to prepare their coop for the winter season.  Remember, if you don’t, there are parasites and worms that can remain dormant in the coop, just waiting for your chickens to peck at them.

Assuming that you’ve already removed the manure from the barn, start looking around the coop for any other debris before you take the next step in cleaning the coop.

A big part of preparing the coop is to scrub it down.  Personally, I find a powerwasher does the job pretty well and it can blast the junk right off of the walls and floor.  A garden hose can also do a pretty good job using the jet setting.  It is also possible to do a good job using a stiff brush and a bucket of soapy water if your coop is far away from a water source.   Just be sure to rinse everything thoroughly after hand scrubbing.

Once you’ve hosed the coop clean, use one of the following disinfection methods:

Clorox Bleach - an old tried and true method with large hatcheries.  Use 1/2 cup of bleach to 1 quart of water.  I usually put this in a spray bottle so I can reach all the cracks and corners of my coops.  Spray the walls and floor with this solution and allow to dry completely and air out before putting the chickens back into the coop.

TekTrol - mix 1/2 ounce of TekTrol per 1 gallon of water and spray the coop with the solution.  Allow to dry completely before placing the chickens back in the coop.

Virocid -  this concentrated broad spectrum disinfectant has a pump that measures out the correct amount of disinfectant to mix with a gallon of water.  Mix and spray coops and then allow to dry completely.

After you have cleaned and disinfected your coop, replace the bedding (straw, hay, sawdust) with clean and dry bedding.

Remember, the coops should be kept clean at all times to keep your chickens healthy.  If the coop starts to smell like amonia, you need to clean it out ASAP.  Chickens only need a few things to keep them healthy:  clean water, plenty of room, food and a clean coop.  This is why they are a popular small farm or hobby farm project or business.

Want to learn more about raising chickens?  Check out this article on my website:  Three Methods of Raising Chickens.

Happy coop cleaning!

~~Charlotte

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