Regardless of the type of
You should provide fresh food and fresh water every day, and you should clean the bedding out once a week or once a month(the deeper the bedding layer the less often you have to clean it out). It's best practice to do a total clean-out at least twice a year.
Mix equal parts vinegar and water to create a cleaning solution and mop up the area for an all-natural cleaning. Take a hand brush or thick-bristled broom and scrub the floors and walls to free any remaining droppings, stains, dirt, or debris. Rinse once more. Sweep out any standing water, but let the coop air dry.
Just like we clean our houses every week your hens will appreciate a clean environment to catch their 40 winks and lay eggs. It is important to keep your chicken coop clean as a build-up of droppings will cause a build-up of ammonia, and this ammonia can be damaging to your hens respiratory system and eyes.
Regardless of the type of chicken coop you have or the amount of chickens, a good cleaning schedule is a quick weekly cleaning followed by a thorough cleaning once a month. Deep top to bottom cleaning and maintenance is usually done a few times a year.
A dirty coop can cause healthy chickens to stop laying eggs. A few animals are intelligent enough to rebel against their owners when they are left to live in dirty conditions. A dirty environment, however, will cause chickens to stop producing eggs.
Quicklime, which is calcium oxide, and hydrated lime, which is calcium hydroxide, are the two common forms of lime you will find in garden or home improvement retail stores. Adding a dry alkali such as lime accelerates the volatilization of the nitrogen in chicken manure, which releases the ammonia faster.
Bedding, dirt, droppings, and dirt should all be shoveled or raked out. You should also remove all the tools and items which might be in the coop. Your feeder, waterer, nesting boxes, and roosts (if they are removable) should all be removed and wiped down with a nontoxic household cleaner.
Coarse sand (also known as builder's sand, but not the finer play sand) has become increasingly popular as a flooring in the chicken coop, and it's certainly helpful in keeping the flock cool in the summer months. Easy to maintain and a boon in keeping flies away, for the small to medium sized run it's a good option.
Medium- to coarse-grained sand is the best chicken coop bedding as it's non-toxic, dries quickly, stays clean, is low in pathogens, and has low levels of dust. Sand is a much safer choice than all other bedding materials.
It is crucial that your hens stay in their coop at night. Despite what you might think, there are almost always predators around, even in urban areas. So keep your flock safe and secure.
Cold stress
Within this range, poultry produce and lose body heat in balance. Proper care during cold weather is key to keeping your chickens happy and healthy. The average body temperature of a chicken is 106 degrees F. Low environmental temperatures can lead to cold stress in poultry.
Like most animals, chickens can get bored. Just because an animal is well fed, has water, and a nice home doesn't mean they can't get bored (just ask my kids…).
A closed chicken coop would also protect your chickens from drafts, cold, and inclement weather. The only time you should consider leaving your chicken door open at night is if both the weather is good, and you want to air out your chicken coop.
Toys. Dogs and cats are known for liking toys, but chickens appreciate them, too! Mirrors are popular toys for chickens, as they enjoy pecking at their own image. Toys that dispense treats when rolled around are another chicken favorite.
In short: yes, but maybe not for the reason you think. It is a common misconception that chickens attract rats and mice, but they aren't actually interested in chickens. Plenty of food and a comfortable place to eat it will attract rats in no time.
White vinegar, baking soda, and sunlight can all do an amazing job of killing bacteria, mold, and pathogens. Ultraviolet rays are also a powerful disinfectant, and vinegar kills many types of mold, as does baking soda. Using all in combination will keep your chicken feeders and waterers clean and your chickens healthy.
If there are small amounts of debris or feces, wipe eggs with a towel or sandpaper. Do not scrub as you may damage the shell. If the eggs are dirty, you can wash them. Using 90-120°F, wash eggs and remove debris.
Chickens have poor night vision and cannot find their roosts in the dark. Adding supplemental light at the end of the day, allows no transition time for them to get positioned for sleeping. Sudden darkness can cause confusion, stress and possible panic leading to injuries.
You take poop balls that have straw in them and put them all over your lawn. After the sun has dried them, you can take your lawn mower over them, which will chop them all over your law. Then once you water the lawn, it will seep into the grass and help to fertilize it.
Pour 1/2 a cup of white vinegar over the chicken and mix well to coat all the chicken. Leave aside for 4-5 minutes. Now wash the chicken thoroughly under running water and use as required. The chicken will no longer have a strong poultry smell!