How to Disinfect a Chicken Coop

A clean coop is an important step in maintaining a disease-free flock.

Stories of health outbreaks caused by improperly housed chickens have been all over the news in recent years. While these problems occur most often in commercial operations with tens or hundreds of thousands of chickens, diseases can happen in small flocks, as well. Most of the problem occurs because of a lack of sanitary conditions. Regular, intensive cleaning of the chicken coop is the first step in raising healthy chickens for food and egg production.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Broom
• Dustpan
• Scrub brush
• Bucket
• Soap
• Power washer or garden hose
• Poultry-approved disinfectant
• Wood shavings or straw litter

Instructions

1. Remove feeders and watering devices from coop. Empty, wash and set aside.

2. Shovel out all soiled litter from the coop. Also remove bedding/litter in the nest boxes. Discard onto compost pile or other areas inaccessible to the chickens.

3. Sweep out the coop, making sure all debris has been removed from all surfaces.

4. Scrub perches and nest boxes to remove caked on feces. Replace extremely soiled perches, if necessary.

5. Wash down all surfaces of the coop, starting at the ceiling and working down. Use a scrub brush to remove any caked on feces and litter.

6. Hose down the entire coop to rinse.

7. Apply poultry-approved disinfectant according to product instructions. These products can be found at farm-supply stores or livestock suppliers.

8. Allow the coop to dry completely.

9. Refill the nest boxes with wood shavings or straw.

10. Place about 6 inches of wood shavings on the coop floor.

11. Refill watering devices and feeder and replace in coop.

Tips & Warnings

• While routine cleaning should take place on a regular basis, a complete disinfecting cleaning should be done at least once a year, preferably a warm spring or summer day.

• Dust perches and nest boxes lightly with food-grade diatomaceous earth to protect chickens from mites and other pests that come out at night to feed.

• Install linoleum flooring or another waterproof surface on the coop floor and part way up the walls to make future cleaning easier.

• Wear eye protection and a mask or respirator while removing soiled litter from the coop. This will protect the eyes and lungs from splashes and from inhaling any spores or other toxic agents in the litter.

• Make sure all organic material is removed from all surfaces. The disinfectant will not be able to do its job of killing viruses and bacteria if organic material such as feces and bedding are still present.

• Make sure the coop is completely dry inside before replacing new litter. Damp, dark surfaces can give bacteria a place to multiply quickly.

References

• University of Florida IFAS Extension: The Home Broiler Flock
• Ohio State University Extension: Cleaning and Disinfection of Poultry Facilities
• University of California, Davis: Proper Cleaning and Disinfection for the Health of Poultry

Resources

• World's Poultry Science Association: Agrodok 4 - Smallscale Chicken Production
• University of Arkansas: Evaluting the Effectiveness of Poultry House Sanitation