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Well friend , we officially tackle our first big projection at thenew homestead : preparing and deep cleaning the crybaby coop that we inherited . Excuse my French , buttalk about a sh*t show ! Literally . ( You ’ll see what I intend soon ) Do n’t get me incorrect : I ’m incredibly thankful to not have to start completely from loot ! Butoy vey , this place needed a LOT of elbow grease to get to a spirit level that I finger comfortable moving our girls into . After all , we ca n’t move in until the girls can move along with us !
So , come along and look at plenty of film of poo while I walk you through the process we took to clean , sanitize , rehab , and review the survive henhouse and run while also addressing concerns aboutbiosecurity , predators , sponger , and more .
I should bring up that I do n’t want this setting to overwhelm or deter anyone who may be on the fencing about dumbfound chickens ! The precondition of this coop was NOT normal , and well avoidable with more routine ( and less awkward ) cleansing . I find it even easier to keep a smaller cage fresh , likeour old coop . If you ’re considering or young to chicken safekeeping , cease by our “ Backyard Chickens 1010 : What to bear When You ’re gestate ” clause .
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The State of the Coop-ion
The existing poulet coop is a converted8×12 ’ shedwith an attached18×18 ’ fenced run . It sit around about 30 feet to the right of our back patio , and I love that we can easily keep an eye on them from there – as well as from our upstairs bedroom balcony . From what I can gather , the chicken coop was installed in either 2016 or 2017 .
No offense to the previous proprietor ’s … but it seems like perhaps they were attempting to habituate the“deep litter method”(but not correctly ) or the coop was just neglected , because we were pass on with what appeared to be about5 years worth of Gallus gallus poopto peck with . It ’s hard to tell from the photos below , but the bedding on the floor was about a foot deep in some place . There were two additional - big quat litter cooking pan poised below the old roost that were completely overflowing with crap .
And rent ’s not forgetthe window … The nuzzle boxes were pose in front of a window and guarantee in seat . If you know chickens , you recognise they care to roost ( ahem , sit around and shite ) as high as possible , which is why I always suggest keeping the nesting boxes down in the mouth than any other available roost . The top of these sometime nesting boxes was the in high spirits perch point in the coop . So course , they hung out there – and pooped into a vacancy between the keister of the nest boxes and the window behind it . The result = years of accumulated quarter in the open screen window .
Alright , I think you get the picture … but just in slip , here are some photos :
Biosecurity & Pest Concerns
confide me friends , I sympathise that poulet coop are n’t going to be pristine ! And it ’s one affair to have your own chickens living in certain condition . Yet there was no way in hell I was going to move our girls into this place without a exhaustive and mystifying cleansing – for everyone ’s health and condom . In addition to being downright gross , we had no idea about the wellness of the previous mickle and possible issues that could be lurking in the mental object of the old bedding , poop , and coop or ravel .
thing I was touch on about and needed to assess or address :
Let ’s verbalize about the first two now , then I ’ll get more into functionality subsequently as I share the changes we made to the inside .
Chicken Coop Predator-Proofing
chicken have more vulture than most folks imagine ! On this exceptional property , the primary chicken predators we ’ll have to debate with includehawks , bird of Minerva , coyotes , raccoon , skunks , and opossum . Someone mentioned we may also have weasels in our area , which also down chickens . In other places , fox , bears , bobcats , or mint social lion and other large piranha or razzing of quarry could be of concern . You also do n’t want rodents or snake in the grass to get in , as they ’ll threaten the eggs , feed , and more often than not become a nuisance .
The very first thing I did with the new wimp henhouse was a perimeter check . I was proud of to see that they usedhardware clothfor the run , as a skirt under the coop , and over the windows . computer hardware cloth is the best choice for predator - proofing a chicken hencoop area since it ’s fantastically durable and has very small scuttle for any critters to slip through .
Despite the shoddy name,“chicken wire ” should n’t be used for marauder - proof a chicken coop or run . The holes are large enough for mouse or some stinkpot to pinch through , and it ’s not very strong at all . Certain animals can tear through it , gnawer can jaw through it , and it also degrades , rust , and weakens significantly with time .
However , as I cleared off branches and leaf debris from the top of the run , I did find a figure of large crack in the hardware textile over the top ( big enough for an possum or racoon to enter ) as well as some rodent - size gaps along the side . We do n’t have the meter tofullybatten down the hatch before the girls move over , but I was able to close up the biggest disruption with tumid zip tie for now .
At this distributor point , I debate the runsafe for daytime economic consumption , but we ’ll shut up the coop overnight just in example anything sneaks in then . The cage itself is pretty sound . We ’ll finally add an robotlike chicken door that will spread the coop to the run at dawn and fold again at dusk .
Disease and parasites
After the predator safety machine check , it was time to tackle cryptical cleaning and sanitizing the inside of the chicken coop . You ’ll see our step - by - dance step process below , which included carefully take away all the contents of the henhouse , wash and sanitizing the inside , installing a new well - cleanable base , unexampled nest boxes , roost , and hold caustic lime in both the coop and run .
Mymain concernswere potential for lurking poultry lice , mites and world-wide bacterium and dust , followed byMarek ’s diseaseand any other disease that inflicts chickens . The virus that get Marek ’s disease can reportedly live for up to 5 months in the surround , and the last mickle travel out of this infinite about 4 to 5 months ago , so we ’re right on that threshold . Our girls were vaccinate for Marek ’s as chicks , though that is n’t always 100 % good . Because the soil is passing dry here 99 % of the class , parasitic worms are n’t ahugeconcern but also something I had in mind .
For us humans , I was worried abouthistoplasmosis – a harmful fungus that lives in bird and bat muck , and can lead in serious sickness if inhale . Therefore , OF course of study we thoroughly mask up , and work slowly and methodically in an feat to not stir up any more junk and movement than necessary while we work .
Deep Cleaning the Chicken Coop
Step One: Removal
The first couple of day of deep - cleansing the chicken hencoop was spent clear out everything from inside : the deep poopy bedding , poop - filled qat litter tray , quondam nesting boxes , and old roost . We ended up replete ten 40 - gallon ice bags full of bedding and poop ! And poop is much laboured than one may imagine … No , we did n’t fuss with compost any of it because a ) all the biosecurity business I just mentioned above b ) we do n’t have a proper compost organization set up at the raw homestead yet , and c ) we but did n’t have time to mess up around . We need this thing chicken - quick , pronto .
Again , we took great maintenance during this unconscious process tomove tardily , wear mask , and invoke up as trivial dust as possible . Rather than underprice shovel - fulls inside the chicken coop itself ( and creating dust clouds ) we kept the trash can outside the coop doorway where it could air out . While Aaron worked on make out the inside ( bless his soul ! ) , I was busy removing branches and leave of absence from the top of the ladder – using a combination of a push broom from above andmy Modern favorite barrage fire - powered folio blowerfrom below .
Day two of removal was just a quick one after work , but an especially everlasting ( and candidly , funny ) task : removing the old nest boxwood that had cause the infamous “ turd windowpane ” . As we pried the very attached nest boxes away from the bulwark , a literal shower of sh*t came pour out downfrom behind it as we pass from the coop . Even then , a several inch thick wall of poo was still stick in the window , so next we poise a trash can below it , and Aaron pushed on the screen door from the outside to get the poo bulwark to come down forward and into the can – while I filmed and laugh . Then I got in there and finish the job from the interior .
Step Two: Cleaning & Sanitizing
Next , it was time to hose this baby off . Some folk suggest a pressure washer , but that strong of a blast in a limit outer space would have just send poopy water splattered everywhere – include on me . So rather I started with agentle “ shower”spray to pink all the debris down first . Then I shift to a steady jet flow and go over all the wall and floors again . The water pool in one arena of the coop so we used an old push broom to show it out the doorway .
Once all the suffer water was out , I sprayed everything down with several coats ofplain undiluted white vinegarby adding it to agarden pump sprayer , and focused on the intemperately colly areas the most . Vinegar is an fantabulous born sanitizing agent , albeit not quite as strong as bleach ( I was n’t keen on coating the space with blanching agent , especially because I was going to be in there puzzle out , and even spraying the ceilings above me ) .
Because the poulet cage is a plywood - based shed , it was significant for it todry out as quickly as possiblethereafter so as to not warp or ruin the plyboard . We had brought over a box seat sports fan from the old house and set it up in there with the coop doorway and all 3 window open . It was totally ironical 24 hour later . I also needed everything to be dry before we proceeded to the next footprint , add a new floor .
Step Three: Install New Flooring
Next , we addedsheet vinyl(laminate ) to the bottom of the Gallus gallus henhouse tocreate an easily - cleanable and nonporous floor . That ’s what we have in our quondam smaller chicken coop , and it constitute routine deep - cleaning of the chicken cage much easier ! The cage shed is 8×12 ’ and we find that our local Home Depot carry canvas vinyl in that exact size , though you could also order a larger roll and cut it down as require .
First , we unroll the vinyl radical out on our patio in the sun for a few hours to get it to loosen and lay flat . Then we institute it inside the coop and quickly realized it was a minute too large , so we align it along two side of the wall and used a razor leaf blade ( box cutter ) to cut off the excess from the others . Next I pulled up / back one-half of the vinyl group and applied a strong grammatical construction adhesive agent ( rated to tie to woodwind instrument , charge plate , and vinyl group ) all along the sides and eye of the be plyboard storey below , laid the vinyl back down over it , and walked all over it to splash it all down . Then we repeat the process on the other half .
Finally , I added a handful of roof nail along the circumference to provide extra hold – in the corners , along the room access , and in a few odd raised spots . That footmark probably was n’t all needed because the adhesive agent bind quite well , but I had the nails already so … just in case !
Step Four: Dust for Pests & Parasites
Though the wall had been sprayed down and sanitized , I still had n’t done anything to direct potential touch , lice , or similar pests at this breaker point . fowl lice and mitesare petite parasites that feed in on chicken skin , blood , and feathering theatrical role … Gross , I know . Even more , red poultry mitesare cognize for hiding out in between woods plug-in , roosts , nesting boxes , and standardised fissure – and can populate for many weeks without a repast ! So the next step was to sprinkle the wall , beams , corner , and perimeter of the Modern floor with calcium oxide powder . ( We did n’t dust the former floor first so that the adhesive agent would cling ) .
I dusted everything usingFirst Saturday Lime , admit the dirt in their ravel . It ’s anatural , non-poisonous , and pet - safepest product that desiccate ( dries out and putting to death ) any insect with an exoskeleton – inducing mites , fleas , lice , ants , beetles , and ticks . It has a very similar method acting of activeness to DE ( diatomaceous world ) but does n’t get the same respiratory risk as DE , a rude silica - ground substance . solid food mark - DE is technically non - toxic to humans and mammals , is secure to consume , but should n’t be routinely inhaled . I have it away many chicken keepers utilize DE ; we did for years as well . We ’ve been transitioning over to birdlime alternatively .
Step 5: Fresh New Additions
Now , permit ’s make this mansion a home ! Using random bit wood we already had around the homestead , we whipped up a new set of nesting boxes and a introductory roost . Fresh pine shavings went on the floor as bedding , and I also sprinkled a little lime around in that too . We also brought over their favorite horse roost for the run .
As aroost , I like to give the gals aflat board(a 2×4 ” on it ’s wide side ) instead of a round dowel pin or branch , and they seem to prefer it too ! After all , I can only imagine how much more well-fixed and stable it is to fall in for the Nox when you do n’t have to wrap your feet tightly around something to pay heed on . I intentionally used more narrow 2×2 ” side supports to encourage them to kip on the main encompassing roost instead , since that is positioned over the poop board .
Poop board , huh ? Just like in our old coop , we create apoop boardthat sits below their roost . It ’s simply a piece of plywood enwrap in sheet vinyl that is glue in place . The thought is that 90 % of their coop stern ends up on that board , and then we can easily scoop it up every twenty-four hours ( or every other twenty-four hour period ) using a across-the-board paint scraper and detritus pan . It keeps the chicken coop so much more clean , tidy , and odor - free ! The vinyl piddle it easy to periodically pass over down and hygienize too .
In regards to thenesting box seat , we really only involve two for our four hen , since chickens prefer communal nests and often lay in the same box in any case – but figured , hey why not add another ? We kept that on the hencoop floor since that is what they were used to in their old coop , and also to discourage sleep in the nesting boxes .
99 % of the time , chickens will perch ( and poop ) at the high point of the chicken coop at night , so it ’s always good to keep nesting boxes at a lower lift than their roost . The previous nest boxes were the staring case - in - point : that ’s what make the infamous shit windowpane ! The top of the nest boxes was the grandiloquent matter in the volaille coop . I ’ll write a freestanding how - to for building the next boxful before long , for those interested .
Step 6: Moving Day!
Or should I say , moving night ? Did you know that chicken ca n’t see in the shadow ? That is why they instinctively find an elevated roost come dusk . That say , chickens are typically far easier to do by and apparently more unagitated ( maybe just frightened and still ? ) in thedark or night . So that makes it a great clip to quietly fall away them into a Modern environment , add a new chicken to a cage , or even swop eggs for baby biddy under a broody biddy .
The first evening we were quick to stay in our new place , we head back to the old mansion to call for the girls after the Sunday run down . We load up them up in a combination of cat crates and cardboard boxes ( with air hole ) and puppy diggings on the bottom . Still working in the shadow , I plump each one down on their young roost and say goodnight . follow morn , they were gently cautious to get down and explore their Modern digs – but with a petty wheedle andblack oil sunflower seeds , they were mirthfully scratching around in no time !
Going Forward
So we finished late cleanse the poulet hencoop … now what ? Many of you have inquired if bigger coop = more poulet for us ? For now , nope ! We do n’t plan to lend to our mickle any time shortly . Four Gallus gallus put up us with more than enough eggs , eggs - citement , and uncontaminating - up ! Also , because we have more vulture at this prop and they ’ll therefore be spending most of their time in the run , I know that they have rich space per skirt rather than crowding it . Theminimum recommended outpouring spacefor chicken is about 10 satisfying feet per wench , and 3 to 4 square feet in the coop per fowl .
The next matter we ’ll be tackling is adding a couplevertical supportsto the sagging run roof using 4×4 ” panel and concrete footers . Those supports will duplicate as a piazza to seize branches to create a daytime “ tree ” to roost in . I also require to make a courteous landscaped pathway from our terrace to the coop – you know , so I do n’t twist my ankle in gopher holes , and have a dry and sportsmanlike way of life on our few rainy days here . Finally we necessitate to continue to piece up the pocket-sized gaps in the hardware textile around the ladder , and perchance tot up a few solar spotlights to further deter nocturnal predators .
From grimy to glamorous!
And that ’s the fib of how we transformed our transmitted “ poop coop ” to a pretty , fair , running , and dependable environment for our beloved flock . I trust you enjoy take along with this messy task , and picked up a few pourboire on deep clean a chicken hencoop if want ! If you materialize to miss the account of our move to this Modern homestead , read more about ithere , and then be trusted to control out the related poulet articles below ! Thanks so much for tune up in .
