How to Clean Poultry Houses

Even if your chickens spend most of their time roaming out of doors, it is absolutely imperative that you keep their living quarters clean and free of parasites. Cleaning a poultry house is not difficult, but it can be time consuming, particularly if too much time passes between cleanings. Whether you have a flock of thirty birds, or just a few, the same basic steps will apply.

Things You'll Need

  • Face mask
  • Parasite dust
  • Nylon stocking
  • Mild bleach/water solution
  • Metal rake
  • Broom
  • Wheel barrow
  • Hand-held chopping tool or rock
  • Replacement bedding (straw, hay or pine)
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Instructions

    • 1

      If your birds have parasites, treat them in the early morning before feeding, while it is still dark. Place some parasite dust (Permectrin Fly and Louse Dust works well) in the foot of a nylon stocking and tie a knot in it. Treat your birds one at a time by turning them upside down and powder-puffing their bellies and tails with the dust.

    • 2

      Feed your birds and let them out of their coop as you would any morning. Your best time to clean is mid-morning. That way you will not cause your laying hens undue stress by disturbing their routine. After they have eaten, clean their food and water containers with a mild bleach and water solution. Be sure to rinse the dishes thoroughly.

    • 3

      Rake every bit of bedding out of your poultry house with a metal rake. If your birds are infested with parasites of any kind, burn the bedding. If they are free of parasites, load the old bedding into a wheel barrow and take it to your compost pile.

    • 4

      Use the metal rake or any hand-held chopping tool---even a rock will work---to break up hardened bird droppings. Sweep the droppings out of the poultry house. They are great for the compost pile. Your birds' living space should be empty at this point.

    • 5

      Fill your laying boxes with clean bedding. During colder months, spread the remaining bedding around evenly on the floor, paying particular attention to packing it into corners and draftier areas.

    • 6

      If you have treated your birds for parasites, shake some parasite dust all over the poultry house. Be sure the bedding gets a good dose of it. Replace the food and water containers.