How to Clean and Disinfect the Chicken Coop – Ultimate Guide – Homestead Gardener

Daily Maintenance

Remove droppings from roost bars and replace soiled nesting material to keep the coop fresh. Quick daily checks help prevent buildup and catch problems early.

Weekly Cleaning

Spot clean heavily used areas, sweep out feathers, and clean feeders and waterers. This weekly habit keeps odors and pests under control.

Monthly Clean-Out

Remove all bedding, scrub surfaces, and sanitize key areas like nesting boxes and perches. A thorough monthly clean supports long-term flock health.

Seasonal Deep Cleaning

Every 3–4 months, do a full coop overhaul—scrub, disinfect, and inspect for damage. This deep clean helps prevent disease outbreaks and ensures a safe living space.

What Do You Need to Clean and Disinfect the Coop?

Before you start cleaning your chicken coop, gather all the essential tools and supplies to make the job easier and more effective. Having everything ready will save time and ensure you can clean thoroughly without missing a step.

Basic Cleaning Tools

• Gloves and a dust mask – Protect yourself from dust, ammonia, and bacteria.
• Broom and dustpan – For sweeping out feathers, dust, and loose bedding.
• Scraper or putty knife – To remove dried droppings from roosts and corners.
• Bucket and scrub brush – For washing floors, walls, and nesting boxes.
• Hose or pressure sprayer – To rinse off soap and debris (optional but helpful).

Cleaning Solutions

• Mild dish soap – Gentle and effective for removing dirt and grime.
• White vinegar or apple cider vinegar – Natural cleaners that cut through residue and help neutralize odors.
• Hot water – Enhances the cleaning power of any natural solution.

Disinfectants

• White vinegar – Safe and natural for routine disinfecting.
• Hydrogen peroxide – Breaks down safely into water and oxygen.
• Oxine AH or Rescue – Poultry-safe commercial disinfectants (follow label instructions).
• Diluted bleach – Use a 1:10 ratio (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) and rinse thoroughly.

Optional Add-Ons

• Diatomaceous earth (food-grade) – Sprinkle around corners and bedding to control mites and lice.
• Fresh bedding – Replace old material with pine shavings, straw, or hemp.
• Trash bags or compost bins – For disposing of dirty bedding and manure.

With these items on hand, you’ll be fully equipped to clean and disinfect your coop safely and thoroughly.

How to Clean and Disinfect the Chicken Coop?

Whether you’re doing a quick weekly clean or a seasonal deep scrub, learning how to clean and disinfect your chicken coop properly is essential. Below is a complete step-by-step guide to help you get the job done efficiently and safely.

Step 1: Remove the Chickens

The first step is to move your chickens out of the coop and into a safe, temporary space. This could be a secure chicken run, a fenced garden area, or a shaded portable pen. Keeping your flock out of the coop during cleaning protects them from dust, moisture, and exposure to disinfectants.

Make sure they have access to water, shade, and food while you work. Close the coop door or secure it to ensure they don’t wander back in before it’s safe.

Step 2: Take Out Feeders, Waterers, and Accessories

Once your chickens are safely out of the way, remove all movable items inside the coop. This includes:

• Feeders and waterers
• Grit trays or oyster shell containers
• Nesting box pads or liners
• Perches, if removable
• Toys or enrichment items

Set these aside for separate cleaning. Cleaning these items separately helps ensure all surfaces get properly disinfected and reduces the chance of re-contaminating the coop later.

Step 3: Remove All Bedding and Waste

Now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and dig into the messy part—removing all soiled bedding, manure, feathers, and debris from the coop floor, nesting boxes, and corners.

Use tools like:

• A shovel or pitchfork
• Dustpan and broom
• Heavy-duty trash bags or a wheelbarrow
• Gloves and a dust mask (to avoid ammonia fumes or dust inhalation)

If your bedding is compostable (like straw, pine shavings, or hemp), you can transfer it directly to your compost pile. Chicken manure is rich in nitrogen and makes an excellent addition to garden compost after proper aging.

Also Read: How to Build Chicken Coop Out of Pallets?

Step 4: Sweep and Scrape Surfaces

Once all the bulk waste is out, sweep down all surfaces of the coop. Pay special attention to:

• Walls and ceilings
• Window sills and ledges
• Floor corners and under roosts
• Nesting boxes

Use a stiff-bristled broom or brush to remove cobwebs, dust, and small debris. Then, take a putty knife or paint scraper and scrape off any dried-on droppings stuck to perches, walls, and corners. This step helps reduce the presence of mites and other parasites that thrive in undisturbed corners.

Step 5: Wash with Soap and Water

Now that the coop is free from loose debris, it’s time to wash all the surfaces. Fill a bucket with warm water and add either a few drops of mild dish soap or mix a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water.

Using a scrub brush or sponge, scrub the following areas thoroughly:

• Floorboards
• Nesting boxes
• Roosting bars
• Inside doors and wall panels

If you have access to a hose or pressure sprayer, you can rinse off stubborn dirt more easily. Just avoid soaking wooden structures too heavily, as prolonged moisture can cause wood rot.

Check this: How to Get Rid of Rats from a Chicken Coop?

Step 6: Disinfect the Coop

Once the surfaces are clean, the next step is disinfection. Cleaning removes visible dirt, but disinfecting kills invisible germs, bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

Safe Disinfectants for Chicken Coops:

• White vinegar – Spray generously on all surfaces and let air-dry. Safe and natural.
• Hydrogen peroxide (3%) – Use directly on surfaces; it breaks down into water and oxygen.
• Oxine AH (activated with citric acid) – A strong, poultry-safe disinfectant. Follow label instructions.
• Diluted bleach – Mix 1 part bleach with 10 parts water. Apply, let sit for 10–15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

Focus especially on:

• Nesting boxes
• Roosting bars
• Corners and crevices
• Floor seams and joints

Allow the disinfectant to sit for the recommended contact time before rinsing (if needed) and letting everything dry completely. Never allow chickens back into the coop while it is still damp or has chemical residue.

Step 7: Clean and Disinfect Feeders and Waterers

While your coop dries, it’s a great time to clean the feeding and watering equipment. Chickens drink from and eat off these items daily, so it’s critical to keep them sanitary.

Steps to Clean Feeders and Waterers:

1. Empty any leftover feed or water.
2. Scrub with hot, soapy water or white vinegar solution.
3. Use a bottle brush to reach inside narrow containers.
4. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
5. Disinfect using vinegar or diluted bleach if needed.
6. Allow to air-dry before refilling.

Keeping these items clean helps prevent mold, algae, and the spread of diseases like coccidiosis and salmonella.

Step 8: Replace With Fresh Bedding

Once the coop is completely dry and disinfected, it’s time to add fresh bedding. Choose a dry, absorbent material that controls odor and is comfortable for your chickens.

Popular bedding options:

• Pine shavings – Absorbent and affordable, but avoid cedar (toxic fumes).
• Straw or hay – Good for nesting boxes, though it can mold if wet.
• Hemp bedding – Low-dust, biodegradable, and long-lasting.
• Paper-based bedding – Absorbent and easy to compost.

Spread a thick layer (about 2–4 inches) over the coop floor and in nesting boxes. If you’re using the deep litter method, start with 4–6 inches and stir it regularly to encourage composting action.

Step 9: Apply Natural Pest Deterrents (Optional)

To prevent future infestations of mites, lice, or other pests, consider applying natural deterrents before adding your flock back in.

• Food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) – Sprinkle a light layer under bedding and in cracks to kill parasites.
• Herbal blends – Add dried lavender, rosemary, mint, or oregano to nesting boxes for a fresh scent and insect-repelling properties.
• Wood ash – Some keepers mix this into dust baths or corners as a natural pest repellent.

Always apply DE carefully, as the dust can irritate lungs if inhaled by you or the chickens.

Check this: How to Make Chicken Coop Smell Better?

Step 10: Return the Chickens and Monitor

Once the coop is clean, dry, and reset with fresh bedding and gear, open the door and let your flock return. Most chickens will curiously explore the refreshed space and settle in quickly.

Take time to observe them:

• Are they eating and drinking normally?
• Are they using the nesting boxes?
• Are there signs of stress, limping, or excessive preening?

Use this post-cleaning period to check your chickens’ health and comfort. A clean coop leads to healthier birds, cleaner eggs, and fewer vet bills in the long run.

Must Read: How to Get Chickens to Go into the Coop at Night?

How to Keep the Coop Clean Longer?

• Use dropping boards under roosts and clean them daily to reduce buildup.
• Keep feed and water off the ground using hanging systems or raised platforms.
• Ensure proper ventilation to keep moisture and ammonia levels down.
• Inspect for leaks or drafts to avoid damp bedding.
• Stay consistent—even light daily maintenance helps reduce the need for deep cleans.

Conclusion

Cleaning and disinfecting your chicken coop is one of the best investments you can make in your flock’s health and happiness. Though it takes effort, a clean coop helps prevent disease, controls odor, and creates a safe environment where your chickens can thrive.

By following these ten steps and sticking to a regular cleaning routine, you’ll enjoy a more productive flock and fewer problems down the road.

Your chickens give you eggs, compost, and companionship—keeping their home clean is the least we can do in return.

Khaja Moinuddin, a computer science graduate, finds joy in gardening and homesteading. Join him on this blog as he shares his experiences in homesteading, gardening, and composting