4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[bexbex]

HI

My 3 chickens are coming on saturday and I want to get everything in I'll need.

How do those of you with a wooden Coop go about cleaning it?

How often do you do it?

What do you use to clean it with and where do you buy it from?

Thanks

Becki

x

[Redwing]

I s"Ooops, word censored!"e out the bedding with a short handled hoe then brush all the surfaces with an old dustpan brush

 

I squirt Poultry Sheild in to all the gaps. Poultry Sheild is a disinfectant available on line or at agricultural merchants such as CWG, Countrywide or Mole Valley Farmers

 

I wait for it all to dry (if I am home I use something to stop the chickens getting in to the house and leave the side of the house off, if I am not around or not able to keep an eye on things I shut the side and hope it dries out before bedtime)

 

I use a dry paintbrush to brush red mite powder in the gaps

 

Fill with new bedding

 

Sprinkle bedding with more red mite powder

 

None of my wooden houses have perches as they are used for young hens however ig yours has nestboxes and perches remove them (if removable) and dust the sockets and the wood with red mite powder

[bexbex]

Thank you, I never thought to brush it in with a paint brush. How often do you do this?

Do you think this is good value?

http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/Chicken_Keepers_Gift_Packs.html#aPCKGIFT

 

Thanks

[Redwing]

Its not bad value, you can use the Diatom powder instead of red mite powder and the book is a very good one too

 

I clean my coops out when they need it, in the summer the hens spend less time indoors so its about every two weeks at the moment, in the winter when they are in for longer because of the dark evenings I did mine every week

[Sarahsausage]

I have a wooden coop and gave it a really good clean when it was hot last week, took the nesting area apart and washed in hot water and disinfectant (Poultry Shield) and left to dry in the sun. I found red mite unfortunately despite using mite powder, the normal stuff just deters them and I believe Diatom actually kills the blighters! You should look on Ebay as you can get all the items you need on there and quite often at a great price! I give the coop a good clean each weekend (fresh newspaper and straw, good sweep out and powdering) and a really thorough wash monthly. I tend to pick the poos out every morning just to keep it fresh for the gals.

PS If you use a thick layer of newspaper under your bedding it will keep the wood clean and dry.

Have fun!

[ubereglu]

When we used our wooden coop I'd take all the panels that were removable off, give it a brush out and scrub down the mucky bits-the perch and nestbox mostly and then leave it to dry and put it back together again.

[Gem_Seb]

I clean mine out and put fresh bedding and Diatom in every week then every 2 - 3 weeks give it a good jet wash and scrub!! Havent found any redmite yet! I have a brand spanking new coop on the way next week! cant wait and neither can my chooks!!

[bexbex]

They're coming tomorrow I can't wait.

I think we have names for them, delilah, henrietta and martha.

I have ordered a cleaning starter pack and hopefully will all work out ok! lol

Having a mad garden tidy up tonight as for past year my rabbits have made it their own... hehe

 

Here are some of the pets they'll be joining

 

http://s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj78/becki_Smiff/Animals/

[bluekarin]

I have a wooden house for my ladies and before I got them I painted the inside with an exterior paint in a light cream colour. This helps to seal up any gaps to stop red mites hiding and also makes it easy to see if its clean. I painted it in October last year, and when its hot again, I will be repainting as some of the paint is starting to peel a little bit.

 

I do a through clean of my girls every few weeks (take out all old bedding and chuck, take out removable panels, scrub in hot water with a bit of disenfectant in, dry in the sun, put all back together, spray powder round, fill with Hemcore, bit more red mite powder I also use Stanoslan F in the run area to help keep down bad smells). I poo pick the nest box every day when I collect the eggs, and hose down the CIR once a week, or more often if it needs it.

 

Have fun on Saturday!

[madchickenlady]

I take the floor, nest box and perch out and scrub them with disinfectant, then leave them in the sun to dry. Then reassemble and give everything a good dusting with diatom/red mite powder, and replace all the sawdust and newspaper (I use a layer under the perch, and change it daily). Once a fortnight, I sweep out the run and replace the easibed, and check the structure for any signs of wear

[bexbex]

omg they're coming tomorrow! Is it right to be nervous?! lol