You love your chickens and you want to keep them happy and safe so you get the best possible egg harvest. To do that, you have to keep their house clean. Healthy chicken coops are the result of regular maintenance, so for this post we have a few routine chicken coop maintenance tips to ensure your feathered babies continue to produce healthily.
Keep a daily checklist
- Check the Mood: If you know your flock and the different personalities within it, you may notice strange behavior that could indicate health problems. To know a little more about itcommon chicken ailmentscan happen, let you know what to look for and when to call a vet. Yes, that includes looking at your chickens' droppings! With almost any animal, you can often first discover health problems in the feces. You must carefully check and document any discrepancies.
- Keep it clean: Make sure you clean the water tanks daily and keep them free of feces, dirt and litter that can cause bacterial growth and endanger the health of your flock. Cleaning the food containers daily can be a chore if you have a large food bowl that will last several days, but it is good to empty the remaining pieces of food to ensure the food bowl is clean and free of debris.
- Watch for problems: Problems with the coop itself, such as mold or structural problems, are another area that can lead to health problems. Look in corners where water can collect or in places you might not check often. Look for holes in the wall, floor and ceiling. Make sure all areas where the chickens stay are safe. Watch out for screws, nails or loose wood. Walk the perimeter of the run to ensure that all fencing is completely intact and not at risk of being torn down by your chickens or predators.
Keep bedding clean and dry
Let's face it: everyone has a different idea of how to handle their pack's home and the cleaning that comes with it. Some prescribe the deep bottom method, which involves changing the bedding only once or twice a year. Some are cleaned daily and bed linen is changed weekly. Regardless of how you manage your flock, it is important to ensure that your barn remains dry and that ammonia from your flock's feces does not build up.Buy clean chicken litteris ideal for keeping the house dry and removing ammonia no matter what cleaning method you use. It is easy to clean and takes routine maintenance of your chicken coop to the next level, allowing it to be used directly in the garden thanks to its unique blend. Read more about adding your used bedding to the gardenher.
Schedule deep cleaning days
No matter how tidy you keep your chicken coop, a thorough cleaning is a must. Spend an entire day cleaning all the bedding, scraping old feces from the carpets and other surfaces, and sweeping and scrubbing the coop. Chickens are dusty and clearing the layer of dust that collects around the coop ensures healthier airways. Spend extra time cleaning water tanks and food bowls. Your chickens will thank you!
