How to Clean a Chicken Coop: Best Practices and Cleaning Products

Cleaning your chicken coop is more than a chore—it’s essential for your chickens' health, egg quality, and overall well-being. A well-maintained coop reduces the risk of disease, keeps pests at bay, and ensures your flock lives in a safe, comfortable environment. If you’re new to chicken keeping, here’s how to keep your coop clean and your flock happy.

Establishing a Cleaning Routine

A regular cleaning schedule keeps your coop fresh and your chickens healthy. Daily, check the nesting boxes and remove any droppings or soiled bedding. Once a week, swap out old bedding for fresh, clean material and scrub the feeders and waterers. This is not only good hygiene but also makes your chickens even happier with a freshly made home, just like fresh hotel sheets! Then, once a month, commit to a deep clean. It may take a little extra time, but it’s vital for maintaining hygiene and preventing bacteria or pests from settling in.

Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Your Chicken Coop

A proper deep clean keeps your coop fresh, hygienic, and pest-free. Follow these steps for a thorough and effective cleaning:

• Remove the chickens: Place them safely in a temporary pen or run.
• Take out feeders, waterers, and bedding: Clear the space completely.
• Scrape and sweep all surfaces: Focus on floors, perches, and corners to remove built-up droppings and debris.
• Wash and disinfect thoroughly: Use warm water and a poultry-safe disinfectant, paying extra attention to perches and nesting boxes.
• Allow everything to dry completely: This prevents mould and mildew.
• Lay down fresh bedding: Wood shavings or straw are ideal for absorbing moisture and controlling odours.
• Replace clean feeders and waterers: Refill with fresh supplies and ensure everything is ready for your flock.

Choosing the Right Cleaning Products

We're advocates for using high-quality, safe products that make the cleaning process easier and more effective. Poultry-safe disinfectants are crucial for killing harmful bacteria without endangering your flock. A sturdy scraper and stiff brush will help you tackle stubborn dirt, and absorbent bedding like wood shavings or hemp will keep the coop dry and fresh. For pest prevention, consider sprinkling a natural deterrent like diatomaceous earth in corners and nesting areas. From poultry-safe disinfectants to bedding materials and pest control solutions, we have all the chicken cleaning products you need to keep your coop fresh and your flock healthy.

Keeping Your Coop Cleaner for Longer

Keeping your chicken coop clean between deep cleans saves time and keeps your flock healthier. Simple additions and regular habits can reduce mess and prevent larger issues down the line. Here are a few ways to maintain cleanliness with less effort:

• Install removable trays under perches: Makes it easy to collect and dispose of droppings quickly.
• Use dropping boards beneath roosting bars: Simplifies daily spot-cleaning and keeps waste contained.
• Add sand or gravel to the floor: Improves drainage and helps prevent mud build-up, especially during wet British winters.
• Keep feeders covered: Reduces food spills, which can attract rodents and insects.

Keeping your coop clean also prevents infestations. If you notice signs of mites, rats, or flies, our pest prevention and control guide has valuable tips to help keep unwanted visitors away.

Why Coop Hygiene and Pest Prevention Matter

Regular cleaning is about more than appearances—it directly affects your flock’s health. A clean coop reduces the risk of respiratory infections, which are often caused by ammonia build-up from droppings. It also helps prevent pests like mites and lice, which thrive in damp, dirty spaces. Clean environments result in cleaner eggs, free from contaminants. Proper hygiene also protects your coop itself, preventing moisture damage and wood rot, which can shorten its lifespan.

Good coop hygiene is essential for healthy, happy chickens. By maintaining a regular cleaning routine and using the right products, you can prevent diseases, control pests, and keep your chickens comfortable. With a bit of effort and the proper tools, cleaning becomes a manageable and rewarding part of chicken keeping.