Coop de Manion
If you have chickens, do yourself a favor as well as your chickens, by keeping their coop and outside pen clean. In a clean environment, your chickens will be healthy, happy, and flourish for many years. On the flip side, if your chicken coop and outside pen is always dirty, you are courting disease, stress, flies, rancid food, rodents, dirty eggs, and more. Your flock will not be able to live an optimum healthy happy life.
We all live in different parts of the country and the world with different climates, and most likely have some sort of unique chicken coop set up. So the formula is, what ever works for you, as long as your chickens are in a clean environment. Do you have tips for keeping your chicken coop clean, that you would like to share?
I have mentioned previously in the post, “Backyard Chicken Coop”, Roosting Bar & Manure Box, I clean my manure box under my hen roosting bar every morning, skimming it and putting it into the compost. I rotate my chicken coop bedding on a regular basis, starting with fresh bedding in the nesting boxes, rotating the bedding to the chicken coop floor and then to the manure box, and finally to the compost bin. This method of cleaning has worked quite well for me.
My hens always have plenty of fresh water and quality laying mash. I supplement with greens, fruits, and vegetables every day for treats. Any uneaten treats also go into the compost bin. Chickens love their protein, as much as their grain. Do not be alarmed if your chickens eat a mouse, small lizard, grasshopper, snail, worm…these are also perfectly natural foods for chickens.
Every month, or more frequently if needed, I thoroughly clean my chicken waterers by soaking them in a tub of “food safe dish soap” and and a few tablespoons of bleach for a half an hour or so. The bleach acts as a sterilizing agent. There are “environmentally safe” bleaches available on the market now. Never mix any soaps or cleaners with your chicken waterers that may be toxic, and leave a residue. With a toothbrush, I scrub the chicken waterer lip and basin. Here in Southern California, in the summer heat, sometimes I get a green scum build up, so I clean my chicken waterers more frequently. Make sure to rinse your waterers well before filling with water and returning them to your chickens. When cleaning your waterers, make sure your chickens have an alternative source of water to drink from.
Protect your feed from rodents, mice, squirrels, moths, moisture, etc. by keeping it in a dry, air-tight container like a new plastic or metal garbage can with a tight lid on it. Ideally, you should have a special place to keep your feed safe in a shed, garage, or enclosed area protected from weather elements. Rodents can transfer mites, and diseases to your chickens if left unchecked. Please note that rodents are pretty determined, and can chew through plastic garbage cans and wood feed bins, too. If you have rodent evidence, take steps to eradicate them.
Incorporating a daily maintenance routine for your chickens will keep your chicken coop, and outside pen clean on a daily basis. Once a quarter, or about every three months, I also do a thorough chicken coop and outside pen cleaning. First, I move my chickens to another area, or let them out in our yard with a watchful eye. I open up all the doors and windows, remove all of the bedding and check for dry rot, termites, rodent holes, etc. With a broom, I brush off my protective wire screens for dust and any cobwebs. I take my manure box out of the chicken coop, empty, hose down, and brush the wire top clean. I then let it dry in the sun throughly. I level the soil in my outside pen with a rake, and add a layer of fresh new sand or soil. I add new walking mulch around my chicken coop. I do a thorough “tending to” of my plants, vines, roses, and vegetation I have planted around my chicken coop. I never let weeds grow or trash of any kind, linger near my chicken coop.
In other words, I do a thorough quarterly cleaning of my chicken coop, and outside pen. I have a small flock of hens, if you have a large flock you might have to do extensive cleaning more often. When it comes to chickens, I can not stress enough that preventive cleaning and daily maintenance is your best philosophy to follow.
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Love the picture of your chicken house. Hugs Ma Belle
Hi Bonnie,
Thanks for the great post and the photo of the greatest chicken coop I have ever seen. I know Kristi will love this. You blog is wonderful !
XOXO
JULES
Jules, I love your comments….VintageGardenGal
Wow! I have yet to see this one. What a beautiful chicken coop you have there! You really took the effort to decorate with such lovely flowers and all.
I feel very strongly about the cleanliness of my coop, especially after suffering from a case of red mite recently. (Am still itching from that discovery!)
Every afternoon when I scrape out the manure and pop it on the compost heap (this is one of the main reasons I got chooks in the first place!) I wonder how on earth others that I have seen keeping chickens manage. In particular, farmers. Many of the runs I have witnessed have been extremely dirty. How are they not battling disease all the time? Don’t get me wrong, mine isn’t clean enough to eat my dinner off – but I sure could take anyone out to see it at any time without worrying what they would think.
Susan
Susan, I agree with you, it is best to have a daily cleanliness routine with your chicken coop and chickens. Much better to be pro-active than reactive. Your chickens are just plain happier which means healthier. Mites is a whole subject in itself. Thanks for your great comments…VintageGardenGal.
Great post — I’m hoping to build a chicken coop next year, and this puts some thoughts into my head about making sure it’s easy to keep clean. I appreciate the details and your other posts on chickens!
Meredith, thanks for your great comment….VintageGardenGal
We recently had a guinea fowl adopt us. He just showed up one day and never left. So, we built a coop for him on the back side of our garage. He was roosting up in the trees and we were afraid of owls getting him. He now has an inside coop and and an outside coop with good ventilation on the inside. We are using pine shavings but it seems to get everywhere. We are going to try hay. We thought he might be lonely so we went in search of babies last week end and found two that were born in July. Don’t know their sexes yet, but from the sounds they are making I think at least one is a female. She’s making two syllable sounds, a sure sign of a female. Since getting the little ones, Ruby, (we named it before we knew the sex) seems much happier and content. They follow her everywhere. I was wondering if someone could help me on the nesting box issue? Do they like to spend time in nesting boxes or should I just keep a large area filled with shavings for them to bed down in. They alternate between roosting on a rail or snuggling down in their bedded area. I am new to this and need lots of help and advice. We were also thinking of insulating because of the coming winter months. We live in NH and the winters can be brutal.
I clean the main floor every morning and their bedding I change once a week. I clean the waterer once a week, sometimes more if the babies get messey. They seem to be alot messier than Ruby is. Ruby is the neatest bird I’ve ever encountered. Just love him!
Any advice is welcomed.
Thank you for listening,
Debbie
Debbie, I don’t know that much about guinea fowl, except a few things. They are terrific watch dogs, fun to have, and prefer to live in trees rather than chicken coops. I would suggest that you either buy a book, or research more on the internet about them. Also, your local feed store might be a source for information about them, too. I would imagine with your winters, you are going to have provide insulation and/or heat for your guinea fowl, in other words keep them contained in the winter.
Guinea hens are not the mothers that hens are. It is harder to keep them in a coop, and practice sound management practices. If Ruby is adapting to your coop, this is a really good thing. If you do have females for Ruby, they might make a nest, if left undisturbed. Guinea hens will lay about a dozen eggs and then sit on them, brooding. Sometimes they hide their nests, if they are allowed to roam outside. I would try and create some sort of nesting box for your guinea hens, and see if they use it, when they are contained.
The guinea hens say “buckwheat”, while the cocks have a one-syllable shriek. It sounds like your on the right track with determining their sex. I suggest you try and find out as much information on raising them. Thanks for your great question…VintageGardenGal
My next door neighbors are having a coop built right now-with a cement foundation. It looks to be a deluxe coop. They will be getting four hens and are letting me adopt one. I have the city limit of three domestic pets and cannot have any hens/coop on this property. I will be helping with coop cleaning and therefore really appreciate your advice. Now off to read more of your advice. Thanks!
Martina, what a beautiful idea. I love it. Thanks for your great comment….VintageGardenGal
I live in Australia and have 4 chickens, the best thing I ever did. I found your post very informative and interesting.
Harold, thanks for you wonderful comment, and reaching out from down under. Chickens are a joy! VintageGardenGal
Bonnie, Thanks for all your comments on my new endeavor. Ruby seems to be the exception to the rule when it comes to those babies. They don’t go anywhere without him and visa/versa. One in particular seems to be closer to him, so I hope the other doesn’t get alienated from the small group. Ruby has adapted well to being confined as long as we give them a lot of outside time. Many times during the day, when I go out to check on them, they are all laying in their bed inside the coop, basking in the sun. We give them lots of light during the day and leave the door open to the outside pen. They love to sun themselves. They are all relatively quiet and seem quite content. No screeching going on here. Many told me that we might dread our decision to keep them as they tend to be extremely noisy. Quiet as little mice, they are.
We’ve started to insulate the coop and have one wall done. We installed electricity, giving me the light I need to clean and for when we have to keep them warm with a warming light in the cold weather.
Everynight when we get out of work at 11PM, they are outside on their perch and we herd them inside the coop for the night. One by one they come in, hesitant at first and then they find their inside roost and all is well. We are hoping that eventually they will come in on their own. Before we built Ruby the coop, he used to go inside the shed and roost on the ceiling beams. I think he’s just happy to have found a new home.
This week end we are securing the outside pen, so we can leave them out if that’s what they want to do. As it stands right now, a predator could easily get under the wire and that would be the end of that.
No action in the nesting box yet, but I’m sure the females are too young. They were born in July and have a bit more maturing to do. I check outside in their pen, as they have bushes etc. in there that could easily hide a nesting spot. They sit in it occasionally, but I’m sure they have no clue as to it’s intended purpose.
Ruby and the babies have let me touch them and their feathers are softer than my down comforter. I am hoping that these feathers keep them nice and warm this winter.
Debbie, so glad that your arrangement with Ruby and company is working out well, and you are taking great care of them. Good work….VintageGardenGal
What is the best way to clean the ground area when you have hens and ducks? The ground quickly becomes hard and has a foul aroma.
Dawn, good question. Ducks can be messy, especially if you have a water source for them to swim in. You might have to resort to picking up their manure daily in their outside pen. My outside pen for my chickens is sandy soil, which is drains well. I add a new layer of sandy soil when it needs it, every 2-3 months or so. I don’t really know all your variables, so it is hard to get specific for you. Thanks for your great question…VintageGardenGal
What is the best way to keep rodents out of your chicken coop? I would like to raise a handful of chickens for fresh eggs, but detest mice/rats and want to know preventive methods from keeping those little freeloaders out of the coop. Any thoughts?
Michelle, rodents are pretty determined when it comes to getting to the chicken feed regularly, if left unchecked. Perhaps you can review some of my posts in my chicken category, too. Keep your feed protected in something like a clean metal garbage can with a bungee cord over the lid. Bring your feed bucket inside your coop at night when closing your chickens in. Rodent-proof your chicken coop and outside pen by plugging any holes, spaces, as best you can. Have a solid chicken coop floor like plywood, not wire. Keep your chicken coop area clean of garbage, and your landscape cared for. Rats like to make nests in neglected landscape. There are rat abatement products on the market, if you are so inclined. I put up a “barn owl nesting box” to attract owls which are a natural predator, and eat a lots of rodents, gophers, mice. With all that said, rodent control is not impossible, and shouldn’t stop you from having chickens.
Thanks for your great question….VintageGardenGal
I am a novice in the chicken raising world. I have 10 Rhode Island Reds and 9 white leghorns. Recently I have notice that some are missing feathers on their backs and bottoms. Could you possibly know what is causing this?
Betty, most likely it is roosters. Do you have roosters in your flock in with your hens? When I got my French hens from the breeder, same thing, and she said her roosters had been pretty rough on her hens. If you remove the roosters, your hens feathers will grow back in time…..Thanks for your great questions…..VintageGardenGal
i am trying to figure out how to build a manure box under my roosting bar can anyone help me with a design or plans i am not a carpenter so i need some help….
Chris, build a low three-sided box that will fit below your roosting bar on your chicken coop floor. Create a lid and frame it in wood to match your dimension of manure box. Secure with 1/4″ mesh wiring. Reinforce your lid in the middle, because your chickens will walk on your manure box, too. Fill your new manure box with pine shavings or bedding that you use. Thanks for your comment….VintageGardenGal
Ruby and friends (Omass and Harree) are doing well this winter and are liking the combination we have offered them by allowing them to go outside every day while still keeping them safe. We got our first egg today from Omass. Isn’t it a wonderful world. Thank you Bonnie for being here for us.
We are getting an egg a day now. I’ve been picking them up and bringing them in, I don’t believe it is a good time for chicks. Why would she start laying now? Any ideas?
Debra, her age plays into this, too. But Mother Nature, the natural lengthening of daylight stimulates poultry. Thanks for your comment…VintageGardenGal
Hi there, I love this site, fun and informative. I have 4 Ausraloups, and they went into moult 6 mths ago, and have not shown any signs of growing feathers back. They lay well, eat well and are free rang. does anyone have an idea.
Regards
Harold
Harold, if they appear to be healthy they should grow their feathers back. Sometimes it takes as long as 6 weeks. Do you have roosters in your mix? Roosters will keep the feathers off your hens, they can be pretty rough on hens sometimes. Thanks for your comment…VintageGardenGal
Hello from Sydney Australia.
A very informative website,great info.Just one question..Have had my hens (3) for about 2-3 weeks now but no eggs yet.i understand it takes a while for them to settle in to their new abode but do you have any idea when I can expect the first Golden Egg?
Regards. Ross
Ross, hens generally start laying at 5-6 months old. Could your hens be young, and not quite laying yet? Or if they have been laying, and are introduced to a new coop or environment, sometimes they will stop laying till they are comfortable with their surroundings. That might be a period of 1-2 weeks. Welcome to the world of chickens…..VintageGardenGal
A further question please Bonnie..
At the moment my 3 hens sleep together upstairs in their coop,i.e. not partitioned off from each other.
Should I have dividers where they sleep so that they will lay eggs or it should be ok as it is?
Your help is gratefully appreciated..Rgds Ross
Ross, usually chickens like to sleep on a roosting bar which is usually two to two and half feet off of the coop floor. They feel safe, and it kind of assimilates sleeping in a tree. It is nice to provide nesting boxes for your hens to have a quiet place to lay their eggs. It just depends on your coop design and space. Some chickens don’t like to sleep on a roosting bar, but prefer their nesting boxes at night. It sounds like your chickens are use to their present arrangement. If you go to my home page, http://www.vintagegardengal.com, look under chicken category on the left side bar. I have written extensively posts on all of these subjects. Thanks for your great question….VintageGardenGal
What should i put to get chicken droppings in coop is mash good to put on top on pine wood
What food is good to feed them also
Colin, please got to my left side bar on my homepage, http://www.VintageGardenGal.com. Under categories, click on “chickens”. I have written so many posts with detailed information on what to feed chickens, how to set up your chicken coop, the chicken roosting bar and manure box, how best to clean your chicken coop. You will find so much information there to help you with your chickens. Depending on the age of your chickens, you can get a complete “laying mash” at your local feed store. Hens generally start laying at 6 months old. If you have chicks, you will need a “grow mash”….VintageGardenGal
Hi, Just thought I would join the site, I have just purchased 4 chickens and are loving every minute of them, I have built them a run, they have nesting boxes and we are currently using shredded paper and hay, is this okay as a mix or is it better with just one or the other. P.s also yesterday just bought day old pekin ducklings, that we are keeping under lights. This is my introduction to chickens and ducks and I am loving it.
Lisa, it is okay to mix bedding types, as long as they are clean and work for you. Are you planning on housing your chickens and ducks together? I can’t tell from your comment. It is not a good idea, because of transmittal of possible disease. Check with your local feed store, do some more research. Thanks for your great comment…VintageGardenGal
Hi Bonnie, thank you for getting back to me. The people that I purchased the ducklings from have told us to keep the ducklings under lights for 6 weeks, then in a cage by themselves til they are about 4 months, then put them in with the chickens. However, if you suggest that is not a good idea I will just build a bigger pen and keep them separated.