It was a coop cleaning weekend around here and let me tell you, that is a chore that feels so good to have done!
While chickens are one of my favorite animals on the planet, they are messy. Chickens love to scratch around their bedding and this creates so much dust. Honestly? It’s a little crazy to me how much dust they can create.
We use the deep litter method in our coop and so we only clean the girls’ home twice a year. This includes removing all the bedding, nesting bars, nest boxes, feeders, waterers and anything else in the coop. We use a blower to blow all the dust out and then we power wash everything really good with hot, soapy water. After it dries, we put down fresh bedding and Coop Recuperate (of course!). The ladies love it and are almost giddy with their clean home.
Will Chickens Stop Laying Eggs if the Coop Is Dirty?
Yes, chickens can stop laying eggs if their coop is dirty. A clean environment is crucial for maintaining the health and productivity of your hens!
Here are a few reasons why a dirty coop can impact egg production:
Stress: Chickens are sensitive to their environment, and a dirty coop can cause stress. Stress is a well-known factor that can decrease or even stop egg laying in hens.
Disease and Parasites: A dirty coop can harbor bacteria, viruses and parasites, which can lead to diseases that impact the hens’ overall health and their ability to lay eggs. Conditions like mites, lice and respiratory infections can also become prevalent in unsanitary conditions.
Poor Hygiene: Accumulation of feces and wet bedding can lead to issues like ammonia buildup, which can harm the respiratory systems of chickens and reduce their egg-laying capabilities.
Nutritional Deficiencies: If the feeding areas are dirty, chickens might consume less feed or eat contaminated feed, leading to nutritional deficiencies that can affect egg production.
Regular cleaning and maintenance of your coop are essential to ensure your hens are healthy, happy and productive! A clean coop helps prevent diseases, reduce stress and provide a suitable environment for your chickens to lay eggs consistently.
How Do I Keep the Nesting Boxes Clean?
In order to keep nesting boxes clean, I recommend cleaning them once a week. I switch out the bedding or nesting pad, sprinkle some Coop Recuperate and make it more comfortable for them. There have been times where an egg might break if I didn’t get out there on time and then I clean that mess up. It’s really not hard to keep your nesting boxes clean, it just takes a few extra minutes of your time when you’re doing chores.
While chickens bathe in the dirt, create a lot of dust and poop like little machines, they really enjoy clean spaces. Isn’t that funny? Until Coop Recuperate came into my life, I was pretty much over raising backyard chickens. We had done it for many years and I was honestly over the smell. When Strong Animals Chicken Essentials came out with Coop Recuperate, everything changed. Coop Recuperate keeps the bedding dryer and fresher for longer and smells incredible. It contains organic eucalyptus and lemongrass essential oils and organic diatomaceous earth to help keep pests away. I have been raising my current flock for almost six years now and I love almost every minute of it. Of course, coop cleaning day is always great to have done, but the in between times are much more manageable with Coop Recuperate.
A clean house is a happy house and the same rule goes for your flock as well! You will find they are much more excited to lay eggs in clean nesting boxes.
Until next time,
–The Wing Lady
Coop Recuperate - Freshen Up Your Chicken Coop Coop Recuperate is a safe and natural way to care for your coop. This coop refresher contains organic eucalyptus and lemongrass essential oil, along with diatomaceous earth to reduce odor and moisture and help improve the quality of your compost.