How to Clean a Chicken Coop: Bedding, Nest Boxes and Roosts

A backyard chicken coop gets dirty fast. Droppings build up under the roosts, bedding gets wet around the waterer, and nest boxes collect straw, feathers and the odd broken egg. A coop that is cleaned on a routine smells less, keeps eggs cleaner, and is a nicer place for you and the birds. This guide covers the weekly bedding change, the nest boxes and roosts, feeders and waterers, the deep clean, and the hygiene habits that keep germs from the coop out of your house.

It follows advice from the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, Alberta’s agriculture ministry, Penn State and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. For anything about your birds’ health, talk to a veterinarian who treats poultry.

How often to clean

Advice on timing varies, and the right answer depends on how many birds you keep, the size of the coop and the bedding method you use.

• Weekly bedding change: a University of Delaware 4-H fact sheet says to clean out soiled bedding weekly to prevent ammonia buildup.
• Drop pans daily, pens monthly: Penn State poultry specialists suggest cleaning drop pans daily and pens with pine shavings at least monthly to reduce contamination.
• Deep litter: the same Delaware fact sheet says the deep litter method, adding fresh bedding on top of old, can work if managed well and only needs cleaning out a few times per year. It says to stir it regularly and add fresh bedding to control odor.

Whichever routine you pick, let your nose guide you. A strong ammonia smell when you open the coop door means the bedding is overdue.

Bedding

The Delaware fact sheet suggests pine shavings, straw or hay for bedding, as they can absorb moisture and help control odor. To change it:

1. Let the birds out into the run, or shut them in a separate area while you work.
2. Wear gloves and a dust mask. Coop bedding is dusty, and stirring it up sends that dust into the air.
3. Shovel out the wet and soiled bedding. Start with the areas under the roosts and around the waterer, which get the worst of it.
4. Scrape any caked droppings off the floor with a flat scraper or putty knife.
5. Spread fresh, dry bedding in an even layer.

Used bedding and droppings can usually go on a compost heap. Follow your local rules for composting or disposal.

Nest boxes

Clean nest boxes mean cleaner eggs. Check them every time you collect eggs:

• Pick out droppings, feathers and broken egg as soon as you see them.
• Replace dirty or damp nesting material with fresh straw or shavings. The Delaware fact sheet suggests lining nest boxes with soft bedding like straw or pine shavings.
• Scrub the box itself during the deep clean, or sooner if an egg breaks and soaks into the wood.

Roosts and drop boards

Chickens drop a large share of their droppings overnight under the roost. A drop board or drop pan under the roost catches it and makes cleanup quicker.

• Scrape the drop board or empty the drop pan. Penn State’s tip is to clean drop pans daily.
• Scrape the roost bars to remove dried droppings.
• Check the ends and joints of the roosts during the deep clean, where dirt and debris collect.

Feeders and waterers

Chickens kick bedding and droppings into their water, and wet feed turns moldy. Rinse and refill the waterer often, and scrub it with hot, soapy water whenever you see slime or debris inside. Keep the feeder dry and throw out feed that has gotten wet or caked.

During a deep clean, Alberta’s guidance is to soak equipment in soapy water and scrub to remove all organic material. For general bowl and dish hygiene, see how to clean pet food and water bowls.

Store feed in a closed container. Penn State notes that rodents often harbor Salmonella, which can then infect the birds if rodents contaminate their food, and says controlling rodents is very important.

The deep clean, step by step

Alberta’s agriculture ministry describes a four step process of dry cleaning, washing, disinfecting and drying. It is written for the time between flocks, but the same order works for a once or twice a year deep clean of a backyard coop.

1. Move the birds out and keep them in the run or a temporary pen.
2. Take out the equipment: feeders, waterers and anything else that comes out.
3. Dry clean. Alberta’s guidance is to remove all organic material, including manure, litter, feathers and feed, and the nesting material from the nest boxes. Then scrape and sweep all surfaces, including walls, ceiling, roosts, floors and ramps.
4. Wash. It says to wash building surfaces with a detergent. If you do not have a pressure washer, it suggests a garden hose and a scrub brush to remove all remaining organic material, then rinsing surfaces thoroughly with clean water.
5. Let it dry. Alberta says to let the building, equipment and tools completely dry before applying disinfectant.
6. Disinfect, if you choose to. Alberta notes that disinfection will only be effective if surfaces are completely clean, as most disinfectants are inactivated when they come in contact with organic material. Follow the product label for dilution, contact time and whether to rinse.
7. Dry it again, fully. Alberta warns that if the building is not dried properly, excess moisture can let bacteria multiply to higher levels than before cleaning.
8. Rebed and return the equipment, then let the birds back in.

Alberta also says the area around the outside of the chicken house and the chicken run should be cleaned as well. If you share a coop or equipment with another keeper, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension advises cleaning it thoroughly with a bleach-based cleaner. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners.

Keep coop germs out of your house

Penn State’s specialists point out that any poultry can carry Salmonella, usually with no outward signs, so treat everything in the coop as if it could carry germs. Their tips include:

• Wash your hands thoroughly any time you handle poultry or anything that has been in contact with the birds’ environment.
• Make sure children wash their hands promptly after handling poultry.
• Do not eat or drink while working with the birds or in their pens.
• Keep poultry out of the house and living areas.
• Use dedicated shoes or over-boots in the pens and take them off when you leave, to help reduce tracking Salmonella and other germs spread in droppings.
• Wash garden produce properly before eating if your chickens can get into the garden.

Do not wash coop feeders, waterers or tools in the kitchen sink. Clean them outdoors with a hose or in a utility tub. Wash coop clothes separately from the rest of the laundry.

A simple routine

• Every day: refresh the water, check the feeder, collect eggs and tidy the nest boxes, and empty the drop pan if you use one.
• Every week: clean out soiled bedding (or stir and top up deep litter), scrub the waterer and scrape the roosts.
• Once or twice a year: strip, scrape, wash and dry the whole coop, and clean the run around it.
• Always: wash your hands and change your shoes after coop work.

For other outdoor pet housing, see how to clean an outdoor dog house and kennel run.

Keep cleanup supplies ready

Our Pet Cleanup Kit is made for dog and cat accidents on carpets and fabrics inside the home. Keep it for the house and use separate buckets, brushes and gloves for the coop.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I clean a chicken coop?

It depends on your setup. A University of Delaware 4-H fact sheet says to clean out soiled bedding weekly, while Penn State suggests drop pans daily and pens at least monthly. A deep litter system needs a full clean out only a few times a year if it is stirred and topped up.

What is the best bedding for a chicken coop?

The University of Delaware suggests pine shavings, straw or hay, which absorb moisture and help control odor.

Should I disinfect my chicken coop?

Clean it first. Alberta’s agriculture ministry notes that most disinfectants are inactivated by organic material, so they only work on surfaces that are already completely clean. Follow the product label and let the coop dry fully afterwards.

How do I stop my chicken coop from smelling?

Keep the bedding dry, remove soiled bedding regularly, clean under the roosts and keep the waterer from spilling. A strong ammonia smell means it is time to change the bedding.

Sources

• University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, Delaware 4-H: Chicken Housing and Coop Maintenance (PDF)
• Government of Alberta, Agriculture and Forestry: Cleaning and disinfecting backyard poultry flock premises
• Penn State: Stay safe from Salmonella in backyard poultry
• Texas A&M AgriLife Today: Backyard poultry producers should take precautions against salmonella

This guide is general cleaning information, not veterinary advice. If your birds seem unwell, talk to a veterinarian who treats poultry.