This post is all about how to keep a clean chicken coop.
How To Keep A Clean Chicken Coop
Keeping a clean chicken coop is about more than just making your backyard look nice—it’s essential for the health and well-being of your chickens. A dirty chicken coop can lead to bad odors, pest problems, and even serious illnesses for your flock. But don’t worry—maintaining a clean and sanitary coop doesn’t have to be overwhelming! Creating a self-sufficient chicken coop is within your grasp. With good chicken coop cleaning hacks & tips, you can create a low-maintenance routine that keeps your chickens comfortable and your chores very manageable. In this guide, we’ll cover the best cleaning methods, must-have supplies, and common mistakes to avoid, so you can keep your flock’s home fresh and healthy all year long. Let’s get started!
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Best Bedding For Your Coop
The first step in keeping your chicken coop clean is picking good bedding for your coop! There are several options when it comes to chicken coop bedding including (but not limited to) pine shavings, hemp bedding, straw and sand. Many chicken keepers will agree that sand is by far the best bedding for your chicken coop!
Excellent Drainage & Moisture Control
Sand dries quickly and doesn’t retain moisture like straw or shavings which helps prevent mold, mildew, and ammonia buildup from chicken droppings.
Odor Control
Since sand allows for better airflow and dries out droppings faster, it helps reduce strong odors in the coop.
Easy to Clean
Sand works like kitty litter—you can scoop out waste daily with a rake or sifter, keeping the coop cleaner with minimal effort.
Reduces Pest Issues
Unlike straw or hay, which can harbor mites and other pests, sand doesn’t provide a good breeding ground for parasites.
Long-Lasting & Cost-Effective
Unlike shavings that need to be replaced frequently, sand can last for years with regular cleaning, making it a very budget-friendly bedding option.
Natural Dust Bathing Area
Chickens love to dust bathe, and sand provides a built-in area for them to keep their feathers clean and free of parasites.
Supports Healthy Foot and Leg Health
Because sand provides a stable and soft surface, it helps reduce the risk of foot injuries, bumblefoot, and leg strain.
What You Need To Keep Your Chicken Coop Clean
Chicken Coop Scooper Shovel
Every chicken keeper needs a chicken coop shovel, no matter what type of bedding you use. If using sand, be sure it’s a shovel designed so you can simply sift through the sand and discard the droppings. (This is a big benefit of using sand for your chicken coop bedding…easy cleaning!)
This Chicken Coop Scooper was designed specifically for chicken coops, making it especially ideal for cleaning your coop. It sifts through the bedding perfectly, and doubles as a rake. The large shovel size helps get the job done quickly, while still remaining light-weight. This comes highly recommended by many backyard chicken keepers.
- REMOVES 2X THE WASTE: Other scoop designs leave small waste behind. The Coop Scoop is designed with perfectly sized sifting holes and shown to remove twice the amount of waste!
- 2-IN-1 PATENT PENDING DESIGN: Integrated rake tines gather droppings and feathers while the sifting scoop separates waste from valuable bedding, eliminating the need for multiple tools.
- PERFECTLY SIZED HANDLE: The 36″ long handle is ergonomically designed to sift and reach waste with one hand without bending over, while remaining short enough to maneuver in small spaces and clean litter shelves. The solid handle design will not fail over time like collapsible handles do.
- PREMIUM CONSTRUCTION: Made in the USA from the most durable post-industrial recycled materials, engineered for everyday wear and tear for farm and backyard chicken coops.It has even survived being run over by a car without cracking!
- LIGHTWEIGHT: The Coop Scoop is made from the same durable material as football helmets. It is flexible and designed to withstand significant wear and tear for everyday cleaning without the worry of breaking or bending like thin metal scoops.
Coop Refresher
Coop Refresher is a great thing to keep on hand for maintaining a clean chicken coop, and minimizing odors in your coop. It’s also beneficial for your flock’s respiratory health. You need to be careful of which brand you use though because some contain harmful perfumes, additives and chemicals that can actually be harmful for your flock. This PDZ Coop Refresher is a top choice among poultry enthusiasts.
- 100% natural mineral odor eliminator for chicken coops – contains no perfumes, additives or chemicals
- Zeolite neutralizes and removes noxious ammonia and waste odors, as well as keeps coop bedding dry
- Protects respiratory health of all fowl, an essential chicken coop accessory for overall well being
- Minerals capture waste into a nutrient rich ingredient, which can be added to composts and gardens
- OMRI listed, safe and effective for: chicken & poultry, ducks & ducklings, turkeys, quail, and housed birds
First Saturday Lime
Part of keeping a clean chicken coop is keeping your coop pest-free. First Saturday Lime is a must-have in your chicken coop supply bin. Not only does it help control odor in your coop, but it helps keep it free of ants, mites, ticks, and cockroaches. It’s a simple monthly treatment. Just sprinkle in and around your coop and run. It’s also perfect for sprinkling in nest boxes and even dust baths.
- Protect Garden from Intruders-Use First Saturday Lime to safeguard your plants. Dust them for protection or apply around them directly.
- Protect Homes and other Buildings- Apply First Saturday Lime around homes, garages, and buildings to deter insects such as ants, mites, ticks, and cockroaches.
- For Ticks in Yards -Use as a lawn insect deterrent by using a yard spreader on the lowest setting, spreading 1lb of First Saturday Lime per 20 sq ft across a lawn for prevention of fleas and ticks.
- Freshen & Deodorize Barns & Coops-Utilize First Saturday Lime to repel insects from chickens, eliminate chicken odors, and reduce moisture in the chicken coop by sprinkling 1/8 inch across bedding. It can be applied on top of or under mats.
- Monthly Organic Pest Barrier- A healthy alternative for insect management. Just pour around your home’s base monthly for safe and effective control.
Scraper
You’ll also need a simple scraper tool for keeping your coop clean. This will be used for scraping dropping from roosting bars and other areas of your coop.
- 【Cleans Well】Bird poop remover can clean the bird droppings at any place, no matter how strong the bird droppings , they can be easily scraped off
- 【Stainless Steel Material】Bird droppings scraper is made of high carbon steel,and very sturdy, high strength, will not deform, will not break, strong and durable, and can clean up the excrement very well
- 【Easy to Use】The Pigeon droppings scraper with a rubber handle ,is easy and comfortable to hold, stainless steel scraper is hard and flat ,can easily clean up the droppings
- 【Multifunctional】Removes droppings from all types of avian diets,also cleaning tool for the feces of other pets …
Nesting Pads
Chickens need a clean, comfortable space to lay their eggs, and these nesting pads make it effortless to maintain a fresh nesting area. Designed for easy swapping, they ensure your hens always have a hygienic and cozy spot to lay, helping you collect cleaner, healthier eggs with less hassle.
- PREMIUM & SUSTAINABLE: At Eaton, we’re committed to producing the most premium products while also minimizing our impact on the environment. That’s why we use 100% sustainably harvested aspen excelsior to create our premium nesting pads. We understand the importance of sustainability in agriculture and the impact that it can have on the planet, which is why we have carefully selected materials that are both eco-friendly and of the highest quality.
- HAND-PACKED WITH LOVE: We believe that the quality of our product begins with the love and care we put into packaging it. That’s why each box of our nesting pads are hand packed with love and attention, ensuring that every pad is of the highest quality and ready for your hens to enjoy.
- THE BEST PLACE TO LAY: Your laying hens deserve the best, which is why we offer the softest and comfiest natural padding available on the market.
- COLLECT EGGS WITH EASE: Our nesting pads are designed to help minimize egg breakage and make egg-gathering easy and stress-free. With our nesting pads, you can enjoy a more efficient and streamlined process of collecting eggs.
- FRESH & CLEAN: Maintaining a clean and sanitary environment for your hens is crucial for their health and well-being. The aspen fibers in our nesting pads help draw down moisture to the kraft paper and create a fresher, cleaner environment for your hens to lay their eggs.
Premo Poultry Spray
Premo Poultry Spray is a good thing to have on hand for your chicken coop chores as well. It’s a very effective treatment, and preventative measure for mites, fleas, ticks and lice. You can spray this directly on your birds, as well as in the nesting boxes, roosting bars and around the coop.
- NATURAL AND NON-TOXIC. Made from natural essential oils Premo Poultry Spray is a safe alternative to harsh chemicals like permethrin, and mite dusts. Veterinarian and farm approved. Apply directly on all poultry. Treat your entire flock, pens, roosts, coops, nest boxes, and yards. Enjoy peace of mind knowing that your chickens and other poultry is protected naturally and safely.
- PROVEN TO WORK. Our formula of natural oils is proven to kill on contact and treats mites, lice, fleas, and tick. It is effective against all life cycles of bugs, including eggs, larvae, and adult. A good addition to chicken dust bath treatments for mites.
- SAFE FOR ALL POULTRY WITH NO EGG WITHDRAWL. Gentle enough for chicks, hens, rooster, and other poultry. Spray as often as needed to eliminate pests on your birds as well as poultry houses and runs. Safe to use around the entire home and family. Give your chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese the best natural protection against mites such as northern fowl mites, scaly leg mites, fleas, ticks, lice, and flies.
- NATURAL AND PLEASANT SMELL. Natural ingredients with a pleasant clove smell with no artificial colors and other no harsh chemicals. No harmful side effects that come from other pest treatment products. Use with confidence knowing that you chickens, other poultry and birds are protected naturally.
Simple Chicken Coop Cleaning Routine
Having a solid chicken coop cleaning schedule is essential for maintaining a healthy, pest-free environment for your flock. Regular cleaning helps prevent odor buildup, bacterial growth, and infestations, ensuring your chickens stay happy and productive. By sticking to a consistent routine, you’ll create a cleaner, safer space that reduces the risk of disease and makes daily chicken care much easier!
Daily Chicken Coop Cleaning Chores
- Check and refill waterers
- Check and refill feeders
- Scrap droppings from roosting bars as needed
- Scoop up any spilled feed or treats (this helps keep rodents away) – See: 7 Best Feeders To Minimize Waste
- Replace any dirty nesting pads as needed
- Collect eggs!
Weekly Chicken Coop Cleaning Chores
- Use your coop shovel to scoop up any droppings around the coop and run (keep a galvanized trash bin in or by your coop for convenience)
- If not using sand bedding, add new bedding as needed to heavily soiled areas
Monthly Chicken Coop Cleaning Chores
- Sprinkle First Saturday Lime in and around your coop and run, including in nesting boxes and dust baths
- Replace all nesting pads
- Remove cobwebs and dust from ceilings and walls (a long handled broom makes this task a breeze)
- Use your scraper tool to remove any caked up dirt or dropped from doorways (this ensures your coop doors are shutting securely at night)
Bi-Annual Chicken Coop Cleaning Chores
Deep clean time! (Recommended to wear gloves and mask during this cleaning)
- Remove everything from coop and scrub them down (feeders, waters, toys, etc.)
- Use your scraper tool to scrap down walls, perches, roosting bars, and any other surface with droppings
- Scrub/Wipe down all surfaces with a DIY cleaning solution of equal parts vinegar and water
- If not using sand bedding, remove and replace all bedding
- If using sand bedding, just be sure to give it a coop scooping and get all of the droppings out. Add additional sand if needed
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