Spring Cleaning Your Coop - A Step By Step Guide

Photo of Kassandra Smith

Kassandra Smith

Senior Editor • Backyard Chicken Coops

Last Updated: 21 July 2020

Spring has sprung, therefore it’s time to indulge in the good ol’ spring clean. But don’t limit this to your house- it’s the perfect time to give your coop the good once over as well!

Short on supplies? Have a peck at our Spring Clean Bundle which has all you need to get that chook coop so fresh and so clean.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make your coop squeaky clean, and keep your flock healthy and happy.

Step 1: Mucking out the bedding

Using a trusty pair of gloves and a face mask (especially if you have allergies!) take every removable thing out of the coop. This includes feeders, drinkers, perches and nesting box trays. Then, grab all the used bedding and put it outside.

“Hot Tip: Use the chicken bedding to make an amazing compost for your garden!”

After you’ve gotten rid of all the bedding, scrape any dried bits and pieces off the coop with a paint scraper. It's a great tool to have on hand for any chicken keeper. Have a peck at our full list of essential tools for chook care here.

chicken-coop-cleaning-tray-with-hemp-bedding

Step 2: Scraping off all the debris

Grab a brush and scrape off any dried bits of chicken poo, cobwebs, dust or any other materials out of the coop. Sweep the bottom of the coop.

After most of the debris has been cleared, mix some coop cleaner together and give the coop a scrub in places where any debris just doesn’t want to budge.

“Hot Tip: There are lots of all-natural ingredients you can mix together to make a sweet smelling apple cider vinegar coop cleaner. "

Using boiling water in the cleaning mixture is a good way to kill any mites that might have clung on for dear life up until this point!

Step 3: Rinse and repeat

Give the perches of the coop a good scrubbing, and then do the same with the nesting box trays. Get rid of any mould and litter, scrub the coop with your trusty apple cider vinegar cleaner, and pour some boiling water over the top to kill any remaining parasites.

Grab a hose and give the whole chicken coop a good sprinkling of water all over.

It’s time to let the chicken coop dry off, so now is a great time to give the feeders and drinkers a spring clean. Use your apple cider vinegar coop cleaner again to clean the chicken feeders and drinkers, then put them in the sun to dry completely.

Step 4: Fresh bedding

Once the coop has dried, pop some fresh hemp bedding into the nesting boxes. There's plenty of things you can add to your chicken coop bedding to keep it fresh and your chooks healthy and happy. Have a peck at our guide here!

“Hot Tip: Mix some regular grade diatomaceous earth into your fresh coop hemp bedding to prevent parasites and keep your girls dry and comfy.”

chicken in coop nesting box with hemp bedding

Step 5: Home Sweet Home!

It’s time to move back in. Pop some fresh hemp bedding on to the floor of the coop, and then put the dried feeders and drinkers back in. Then you can let the girls back in to their darling hen house.

Don’t forget to wash your hands!

All of our coops are very easy to keep clean - especially with the detachable cleaning trays! Our Taj Mahal, Penthouse and Mansion will give your chickens the hygienic house of their dreams.

From spring cleaning to winter warmers, each season has its tasks and challenges for chicken keepers. Come rain or shine, hot or cold, something we’ll never be able to control is the weather! This can be a worry and concern when thinking about the safety and comfort of your backyard friends.

Cluckily, you can prepare for all seasons thanks to our friends over at Chickenpedia. I recommend their brilliant Weatherproof Chickens course to all my readers! They have compiled a guide of everything you need to keep healthy chickens through the seasons (which is more than you think!) with a great set of checklists and downloads to keep. Dangerous conditions including dehydration and frostbite can be avoided with the correct information and actions. Whatever the weather, this course will help you keep your chickens happy and healthy all year round.

As chicken keepers, we want to do an eggcellent job when caring for our feathered friends. Many chicken keepers struggle to handle chicken health or behaviour issues, especially in the first few years of having a flock. Chickenpedia have comprehensive online courses on everything you didn’t know you need to know and then some more! From healthcare to raising baby chicks to feeding and behavior, you’ll find beginner-friendly courses that’ll give you the knowledge and confidence to successfully look after your chickens.

As a member, you will get access to ALL their fantastic courses. No need to wing it, become the ultimate chicken eggspert! Check out Chickenpedia and their amazing courses today!

Sources and further reading