Hello lovely chicken folk! Things are moving quickly now. I have my (albeit not yet assembled) coop, my run is being delivered next weekend and so I’m gearing up to buy some of the essentials I need for my beloved chickens. However, I’m utterly confused/overwhelmed at the amount and variation of potential cleaning products that I will need. I’m very much a less is more kind of gal when it comes to cleaning products around the house, but don’t want to put my chickens at risk by denying them the essentials. I intend to poo pick daily and clean the coop once a week but seriously there are so many sprays, powders, solutions to dilute, I really don’t know where to start. I’ve got a plastic coop which cones apart so I will be jet washing that regularly. Unless I get a big outbreak of something like lice, mites, worms I’m somewhat against using too many chemicals but will go with any advice out there to keep my girls in good health. Any tips will be most gratefully received!!! Thank yooouuuu!!
Cleaning product confusion
- Thread starter bozza
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My chicken cleaning products consist of a 5 liter container of either poultry shield or virenza. Don't use anything else. And I only use those when I do a full clean of the house. I remove poo daily, and change bedding and clean the poo boards maybe once a month, depending on how it is. Oh, and I use Diatom under the bedding and on the ends of the perches. Once or twice a year, I use a steam cleaner to blast everything away (don't have a power washer, or I'd use that!).
If you want to use a guaranteed poultry-friendly detergent, get some Poultry Shield and use either as a spray, or diluted for cleaning surfaces. The best disinfectant cleaner is Barrier V1, which can also be used in kitchens, it's used in restaurants etc as an organic disinfectant with a pleasant herbal odour. Expensive to buy, but used as directed, highly diluted, it's longlasting. Or you can just use whatever you have as a kitchen cleaner - once you've rinsed off the dirt+detergent from a smooth plastic surface it's unlikely that any harmful residue will be left, and if it's OK for your family it's OK for the hens!
I don't feel jet washing of your plastic coop will be necessary if you poo pick it regularly. Just put in a nice layer of Aubiose or whatever you're using as bedding so the floor is well covered, then poo picking will leave the surfaces clean underneath. A plastic coop is reassuringly heavy which means that you don't want to be moving it around out of the run, and jet washing will make a very wet area, scare the chickens, waste a lot of water, and also it'll take ages to dismantle and put back together again. Just keep the coop reasonably clean with a daily poo pick, and wash down with a bucket of hot water now and then when you notice dust is collecting or the surfaces are stained with poo. I find that poo stains wash off easily with a cloth, hot water and disinfectant. You're much less likely to get a redmite infestation in a plastic coop, and unless and until you do, there's no need to keep taking it to bits. As you say, 'less is more'!
I agree about the way businesses queue up to sell stuff to new keepers, lots of it totally unnecessary! Healthy young pullets do not need any supplements. Do not bother with Vermex, for example - not effective as a wormer and not necessary. They do need a course of Flubenvet wormer when they have settled down in their new home and are all eating well, to deal with the worms they will have brought with them, having been reared in premises which have a lot of other chickens from various sources. It's also worth getting some purple disinfectant spray and some antibiotic powder for your poultry first aid kit, in case you ever have to deal with chicken injuries. You probably won't ever need these, but if you do, you'll need them immediately. You'll need a dustbin, preferably metal, for layers pellets; a plastic bucket and gardening gloves for poo picking; a dedicated washing up brush kept by the tap for cleaning drinkers between refills; some bricks or a concrete block to raise the drinker to chicken chest height to reduce mess being scratched into it; at least one feeder and drinker, spares are good; a large plastic container at least 40 cms deep, with 10-20 cms of play sand or dry earth in it for their dust bath, in a covered dry place; and if possible, long wooden perches about 40-50 cms off the ground, looking out of the run for them to sit on and enjoy the view. If you have Leghorns or other flighty leghorn-hybrid breeds they'll like a high perch as well - my last flock were all told to roost up there every night by the top hen, who was a leghorn, and the coop stayed lovely and clean inside for months on end!
I don't feel jet washing of your plastic coop will be necessary if you poo pick it regularly. Just put in a nice layer of Aubiose or whatever you're using as bedding so the floor is well covered, then poo picking will leave the surfaces clean underneath. A plastic coop is reassuringly heavy which means that you don't want to be moving it around out of the run, and jet washing will make a very wet area, scare the chickens, waste a lot of water, and also it'll take ages to dismantle and put back together again. Just keep the coop reasonably clean with a daily poo pick, and wash down with a bucket of hot water now and then when you notice dust is collecting or the surfaces are stained with poo. I find that poo stains wash off easily with a cloth, hot water and disinfectant. You're much less likely to get a redmite infestation in a plastic coop, and unless and until you do, there's no need to keep taking it to bits. As you say, 'less is more'!
I agree about the way businesses queue up to sell stuff to new keepers, lots of it totally unnecessary! Healthy young pullets do not need any supplements. Do not bother with Vermex, for example - not effective as a wormer and not necessary. They do need a course of Flubenvet wormer when they have settled down in their new home and are all eating well, to deal with the worms they will have brought with them, having been reared in premises which have a lot of other chickens from various sources. It's also worth getting some purple disinfectant spray and some antibiotic powder for your poultry first aid kit, in case you ever have to deal with chicken injuries. You probably won't ever need these, but if you do, you'll need them immediately. You'll need a dustbin, preferably metal, for layers pellets; a plastic bucket and gardening gloves for poo picking; a dedicated washing up brush kept by the tap for cleaning drinkers between refills; some bricks or a concrete block to raise the drinker to chicken chest height to reduce mess being scratched into it; at least one feeder and drinker, spares are good; a large plastic container at least 40 cms deep, with 10-20 cms of play sand or dry earth in it for their dust bath, in a covered dry place; and if possible, long wooden perches about 40-50 cms off the ground, looking out of the run for them to sit on and enjoy the view. If you have Leghorns or other flighty leghorn-hybrid breeds they'll like a high perch as well - my last flock were all told to roost up there every night by the top hen, who was a leghorn, and the coop stayed lovely and clean inside for months on end!
MrsBiscuit
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Excellent advice from Marigold! You may need a few more medicines as life goes on, particularly something to treat lice/mites which is an almost inevitable part of chicken keeping. I am sure people may recommend something, as I no longer have birds I am not up on the most recent treatments. There are a range of other common diseases, but you won't necessarily encounter them, so best to wait until they strike before purchasing something, particularly as use by dates don't go on forever.
Thank you Lady A, Marigold and Mrs Biscuit! I went to visit the place where I am getting my girls from today and the owner was much of the same opinion. I have already bought some Barrier V1 (coincidentally), so I will opt for some poultry shield too for when I do a clean down. I bought a bag of diatom as well as some other basics from the poultry supplier today. The guy there has given me lots of advice over the last 6 months and hasn’t tried to sell me stuff I don’t need, so I was keen to get back there to stock up before I get my girls in a few weeks’ time. I’m fairly well organised in terms of things I need as I’ve been buying bits and bats for a few months now. I will keep you posted With pictures once the run is up and things are moving on a bit!!
Ifyou've got Barrier V1 you don't need Poultry Shield as well. Once you've finished up the Barrier V1 you could try Poultry Shield but you probably won't want to change. Don't use the diatom unless you get an infestation, as it can be dangerous stuff if inhaled. Best used as a paste painted on to joints and perches rather than as a powder.
Looking forward to news about the Big Day! Have you decided what to get?
Looking forward to news about the Big Day! Have you decided what to get?
MrsBiscuit
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Just a small divergence from me. I wouldn't rely on the Poultry Shield as its not as strong/effective as the Barrier V1. If I was being careful I would use the PS as my regular cleaner and use the BV as a deep clean once in a while/after any illness. If I was flush then I might just use the BV! However, I am looking forward to hearing about your girls, I think we all remember the early days and the excitement, in fact it never fades when you get a new batch, the world of possibilities is open to you!
