How to prepare old coop

[Heatherella]

Hi there! We’ve brought home pullets that are 5 weeks. My coop/shed has sat empty for about a year and it’s dusty and full of old dried poop. What’s the best way to clean it, and how worried do I need to be about getting it clean for the new babies? There is poop that is like cement above the nesting boxes and I’m not sure how to get it off and I certainly don’t want the babies getting sick. TIA!

 

[Mouthpear]

Hi there! We’ve brought home pullets that are 5 weeks. My coop/shed has sat empty for about a year and it’s dusty and full of old dried poop. What’s the best way to clean it, and how worried do I need to be about getting it clean for the new babies? There is poop that is like cement above the nesting boxes and I’m not sure how to get it off and I certainly don’t want the babies getting sick. TIA!

Use a solution of regular white distilled vinegar (1 part) and water (2 parts). Spray with a 2 gallons spray bottle. Spray only till you see it damp, and wait a few minutes, then spray heavy to soak. Do not wait too long before you try breaking it up. I do not know what your floor is made of or if it is treated in any way (paint, stain, varnish) but you don't want it to stain. I know it's already a mess but you don't want to make it worse. Also the vinegar will break down wood fiber cohesion. Do it in sections if you like. If you don't want to risk it go to a 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. Throw it all in the garden soil pile.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The flock that occupied the coop before was yours? Any health issues while you had them? If no issues, I wouldn't sweat it - scrape off what poop you can with a putty knife, sweep the rest clean as much as you can. Really no different than adding chicks to a coop with an existing flock.

 

[Heatherella]

Use a solution of regular white distilled vinegar (1 part) and water (2 parts). Spray with a 2 gallons spray bottle. Spray only till you see it damp, and wait a few minutes, then spray heavy to soak. Do not wait too long before you try breaking it up. I do not know what your floor is made of or if it is treated in any way (paint, stain, varnish) but you don't want it to stain. I know it's already a mess but you don't want to make it worse. Also the vinegar will break down wood fiber cohesion. Do it in sections if you like. If you don't want to risk it go to a 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. Throw it all in the garden soil

Use a solution of regular white distilled vinegar (1 part) and water (2 parts). Spray with a 2 gallons spray bottle. Spray only till you see it damp, and wait a few minutes, then spray heavy to soak. Do not wait too long before you try breaking it up. I do not know what your floor is made of or if it is treated in any way (paint, stain, varnish) but you don't want it to stain. I know it's already a mess but you don't want to make it worse. Also the vinegar will break down wood fiber cohesion. Do it in sections if you like. If you don't want to risk it go to a 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. Throw it all in the garden soil pile.

Thank you so much for taking the time to help! I feel silly for not thinking of vinegar and water! I have a cockatiel and that’s all I use for cleaning in the house! Brilliant!

 

[Heatherella]

The flock that occupied the coop before was yours? Any health issues while you had them? If no issues, I wouldn't sweat it - scrape off what poop you can with a putty knife, sweep the rest clean as much as you can. Really no different than adding chicks to a coop with an existing flock.

It is a shed we converted into a chicken coop and has been vacant for the last year because we combined our flocks into one coop. I didn’t think it was going to work, but it did! We have a few hens left from our original flock born in 2016 and last fall I knew the coop was too big for just a few hens to maintain body heat, so on a wing and a prayer (pun intended) I moved the old ladies into the coop with the younger hens and they’ve been great ever since! Free ranging both flocks together for the last couple years helped.

That was probably too much info, but thank you so much for responding! I’m excited to have a bunch of babies and I’ve been worrying too much. I wish I could give them them a nice, new coop like the others have always had when they were chicks, but they’re going to have to make do with what they have. Haha!

 

[Mouthpear]

Thank you so much for taking the time to help! I feel silly for not thinking of vinegar and water! I have a cockatiel and that’s all I use for cleaning in the house! Brilliant!

Yes vinegar the magic elixir. You can even drink it daily and get health benefits from it. That also goes for the birds. Not only is it good for their health, by adding it to their water, it helps with killing bacteria and keeps the water clearer. AKA kills algae.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I’m excited to have a bunch of babies and I’ve been worrying too much. I wish I could give them them a nice, new coop like the others have always had when they were chicks, but they’re going to have to make do with what they have. Haha!

I personally think some germs (not dangerous ones, i.e. if your flock had Mareks) is a good thing as it lets chicks build up their immunity. Kinda like kids playing in the dirt.

 

[Heatherella]

I personally think some germs (not dangerous ones, i.e. if your flock had Mareks) is a good thing as it lets chicks build up their immunity. Kinda like kids playing in the dirt

 

[Heatherella]

No Marek’s, thank goodness. Although, here in Maine we are at great risk for avian flu. We’re advised by the state vet to keep chickens inside all the time but where is the quality of life? Everything wants to kill chickens all the time anyway! Thank you again for the advice. I always over think it with new babies!

 

[aart]

The flock that occupied the coop before was yours? Any health issues while you had them? If no issues, I wouldn't sweat it - scrape off what poop you can with a putty knife, sweep the rest clean as much as you can. Really no different than adding chicks to a coop with an existing flock.

Ditto Dat^^^....better not to 'wet' things.

the coop was too big for just a few hens to maintain body heat

You realize you don't use chicken body heat to 'warm' a coop?
Their feathers keep most their body heat in place.....
....and trying to have a coop 'hold heat' is impossible if you have adequate ventilation(which is essential).