Safety Tips on Cleaning & Deodorizing Chicken Coops

Backyard chicken flocks can be raised in a variety of setups, a standard chicken coop being the classic choice. Due to their contained nature and the habits of chickens, chicken coops need regular cleaning. Cleaning both ensures your chicken flock's safety and helps prevent a buildup of fumes and waste matter that can cause unsanitary conditions. While cleaning, practice proper safety strategies to protect both you and your flock during the cleaning process.

  1. Remove the Birds

    • The activity caused by cleaning a coop, along with the chemicals found in cleaning products, may stress your chickens. Move your chickens to a holding area, like an outdoor run or a kennel, while you're cleaning their home. This keeps the chickens safe, and also lowers your risk of ingesting dust, manure and other debris caused by the chickens flapping and making the debris airborne.

    Ventilation

    • Ventilate the chicken coop while you're cleaning it by opening up any doors or windows in the coop. This will quickly help drive out bad smells. If your coop has no ventilation, modify its construction (e.g. drill ventilation holes along its eaves). Not only will ventilation keep the coop smelling fresh after you clean it, but proper air flow helps to prevent toxic and unsafe buildups of fumes released by the birds' manure, according to Living The Country Life magazine.

    Food and Water Dishes

    • Bacteria and fungus may collect on the chickens' feeders and waterers. Sanitize the dishes by soaking them for 30 minutes in a solution made of one part bleach and eight parts water. Rinse the dishes thoroughly with fresh water after soaking, and allow the food dish to dry thoroughly before refilling it with feed to reduce the chances of mold and food spoilage. When mixing the bleach and water, avoid getting the bleach on your skin as straight bleach can cause chemical burns.

    Sterilize Roost and Nest Boxes

    • Regular cleaning of the coop's roosts and nest boxes with broad spectrum sanitizing cleaning solutions formulated for the use on farms will help keep your birds healthy and safe, lowering the risk of diseases and pest infestations like lice. Example products include TekTrol and Virocid, available at most farm supply stores and hatcheries. Apply the products to areas in which your birds congregate, following the labeled application guidelines as the potency varies by product.

    Sweeping

    • Sweeping the hard surfaces of the coop with a stiff-bristled brush can help dislodge solid particles like dried manure, while also clearing away dust and cobwebs. Wear a face mask while sweeping to avoid breathing in any debris particles.