How to Keep Your Backyard Chicken Coop a Paradise for Birds
Let’s say you’ve been dreaming about eating fresh eggs every morning and have decided to make it happen. Perhaps you’ve even purchased a Yoder coop complete with a neat row of nesting boxes and a large window to let in light. Maybe you’ve even bought the hens you need to populate the coop. It seems like you’re all set to start collecting your daily eggs. Now, your only issue is maintaining your backyard chicken coop.
We can help with a quick intro to coop care. But, first, understand that maintenance tasks fall into three categories: daily, weekly, and semi-yearly.
Daily
Daily responsibilities for a coop are simple: feed and water the hens and collect their eggs. The birds will need clean water and spotless water receptacles because they won’t accept dirty drinking sources. You also need to gather eggs daily to maximize freshness and cleanliness and minimize the chances of cracks.
Weekly
Clean out your backyard chicken coop every week or two. Pick up broken eggs and coop litter and replace the bedding. Don’t forget to clear waste off the roosting bar and clean out the nesting boxes. They will need fresh bedding, as well.
Pro tip: Use your soiled coop bedding as compost in your garden! Chicken litter has plenty of nitrogen to keep your plants nourished and healthy.
Semi-Yearly
Just like your home, a backyard chicken coop needs a deep clean occasionally. The good news is that you’ll only need to do this twice per year. First, take out the birds, bedding, food, water containers, etc. Then, scrub the place down with a solution of one part bleach and 10 parts water. Don’t forget to let both the building and supplies air dry before returning everything to its proper place.
You should also perform a deep clean between flocks and after a bird contracts a contagious disease.
Of course, this isn’t all you need to know about raising chickens, but it’s a basic outline for maintaining their shelter. We wish you luck, and if you need any information on purchasing a poultry structure, you know who to call.