How to Clean your Chicken Coop

Keeping a clean coop is not only important for your chicken’s health but also to keep unwanted pests away. So what do I do to keep my chicken coop clean? 

Before cleaning, remove all feeders and waterers and open any doors and windows. 

Scrape off Poop from the Roost Bars and Poop Boards

First I scrape any poop off the roost bars and poop boards. You want to be careful to not damage the wood. Your birds could get a laceration or puncture wound and these types of injuries frequently turn into Bumblefoot. I’ve used all sorts of things to clean the roost bars but recently I started using an ice-scraper. It works great and is gentle on the boards. 

Remove Bedding Material and Add to Compost. 

I remove all the bedding material from the Hen House and add to the floor of the run under the roost bars. Since our girls roost at night in the run, the bedding in the Hen House isn’t really soiled.  Then what is under the roost bars goes into the compost. Kind of a cycle. 

Sweep all Surfaces. 

Sweep all the surfaces. Also, look for any holes or openings where predators can get in. Additionally, I’m looking for mites.  

Spray Surfaces with Vinegar and Water 

I use a 1:1 solution, equal parts water and vinegar.  Do you notice a slimy film on any surfaces? This is biofilm which can contain bacteria and needs to be removed so the area can be disinfected.

If you still have any remaining dirt or poop after scraping, scrub if necessary. Rinse and spray vinegar again. 

Let sit for 20 minutes to disinfect. 

Some people like to use bleach, but I’ve read that it can interact with the ammonia in chicken poop…I’m not really sure about this, but I like that the vinegar is a natural disinfectant. Now when I’ve seen evidence of mice in the coop, I use bleach. 

Wash Feeders and Waterers. 

I use Dawn dishwashing liquid. It’s been proven to be safe for animals. After washing, I set them out in the sun. 

Hose Everything Down and Let Dry Thoroughly.  

Hose down roost bars, nest boxes, coop floor, etc. We switched to mulch in our run a few months ago, so I also hose that down also. I’m not sure I’ll do this in the winter but now while it’s so hot our ground is cracking. The mulch really helps. 

Freshen up the Dust Bath.

While everything is drying, I usually freshen up the dust bath area. I loosen the dirt, remove any poop, and add wood ash and food-grade DE. I also like to add herbs on occasion. Right now, I sprinkle sage or lavender because that’s what I have on hand. But I also use rosemary, oregano, and mint.

Spray Area with Poultry Spray. 

Spray nest box, roost bars and any other areas with poultry spray. There are a lot of great products on the market. I use Manna Poultry Spray in the nest box and Permethrin 10 on the roost bars. It’s great for killing roost mites that may have been hiding during cleaning. 

Add New Bedding 

I replace the bedding in the hen house and occasionally I add extra mulch to the run depending on how much I’ve removed. 

Many people do deep litter method which doesn’t have to be cleaned out as frequently. Being in Texas, deep litter doesn’t work well for us.

Sprinkle DE

I sprinkle food grade DE in the edges of the hen house, in the bedding and around the fence. 

Fill up Waterers and Feeders and Return to the Coop. 

I do this monthly but, of course, will do more frequently if needed.  Many people do a deep clean in Spring and Fall that is similar to my routine. In the winter, I don’t remove as much of the bedding as I do in warmer months, giving the chickens something to bed down in or scratch around.

I also clean the coop weekly. Be sure and check out my blog on A Day in the Life of the Chicken Keeper.