Best Coop Cleaner?

[ldrchickens]

Hey guys bored at work and researching ways to clean and sanitize a chicken coop naturally and safely. I currently use orange peel infused vinegar but im wondering if it really does disinfect? I came a cross a site where the author uses vodka. What do you guys use to get the most bang for your buck? Thanks!

 

[azygous]

Oxine kills almost every virus and bacteria there is. To activate it for this purpose, you add citric acid to it. Vodka and vinegar won't touch viruses, and I doubt those will do much for some tricky bacteria. Chlorine won't even kill viruses. https://www.revivalanimal.com/product/oxine-animal-health-ah?sku=15103-208

It's also useful as a treatment (no citric acid for this use) for chickens having respiratory issues, even hard to treat fungal infections.

 

[Folly's place]

Chlorine bleach does kill most (all) viruses, used as a disinfectant. That means cleaning first, not applying it over dirt. Alcohol kills many pathogens, when it sits on a clean surface for ten or fifteen minutes. Vinegar doesn't do much, except to some yeasts/ molds.
Chickens don't manage strong scents well at all, so everything needs to be dry before they return to the site.
Most home coops, including mine, aren't actually cleanable. Too many nooks and crannies, wood construction, would disintegrate if attacked with a power sprayer with serious disinfectants used. 'Reasonably clean' and shoveled out is what happens here.
Avoiding bad diseases is best!
Mary

 

[aart]

Hey guys bored at work and researching ways to clean and sanitize a chicken coop naturally and safely.

Do you have a reason to need to sanitize....like previous diseases or germaphobia?

I would avoid using any liquid to 'clean'...hard to get it to thoroughly dry.

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.

-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.

-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.

-Runs have semi-deep litter, never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.

-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 5 years.

 

[ldrchickens]

Do you have a reason to need to sanitize....like previous diseases or germaphobia?

I would avoid using any liquid to 'clean'...hard to get it to thoroughly dry.

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.

-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.

-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.

-Runs have semi-deep litter, never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.

-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 5 years.

No not really. Im just kind of a clean freak lol. I was thinking of keeping everything clean to prevent anything but now after researching the past two days and after a few of yall have commented im thinking im over doing it lol.

 

[chickens really]

I only sweep and deep clean my Coop twice a year. I don't use any cleaning products. I sprinkle dusting powder along edges and on Roost. Viola, my Coop is clean enough for Chickens.

 

[ldrchickens]

I only sweep and deep clean my Coop twice a year. I don't use any cleaning products. I sprinkle dusting powder along edges and on Roost. Viola, my Coop is clean enough for Chickens.

Thanks! I am a first time chicken owner and when i first got my chicks a sickness went around and i lost a couple of them and ever since i am always super careful, actually over careful and pre-cautios lol cause i dont want something to happen again but i guess i need t learn to town it down lol

 

[chickens really]

Thanks! I am a first time chicken owner and when i first got my chicks a sickness went around and i lost a couple of them and ever since i am always super careful, actually over careful and pre-cautios lol cause i dont want something to happen again but i guess i need t learn to town it down lol

Chickens become immune to their own diseases they carry. Stress brings out symptoms of disease and they can catch new disease from wild birds or if you introduce new birds with disease they don't carry.

 

[aart]

Im just kind of a clean freak

Chickens might not be for you then.....my mother used to say 'dirty birds' about all birds, they do generate lots of dust, not to mention the poop....it'll either kill ya or cure ya!

 

[ldrchickens]

Chickens might not be for you then.....my mother used to say 'dirty birds' about all birds, they do generate lots of dust, not to mention the poop....it'll either kill ya or cure ya!

Haha they do seem to be the nastiest of birds lol or animals in general lol. ive never seen so much dust, dirt, and poop come from single thing lol I love them as if they were my children though lol I will just have to learn to deal with it haha