Preventative Measures

One of the best things we can do to keep our respective flocks healthier is to maintain a clean coop. Here’s our regimen.

Once a week, Elaine and I give our two coops a thorough cleaning. We release our heritage Rhode Island Reds into the yard for the foraging they so much enjoy and so they won’t be underfoot when we perform our tasks.

First, we remove the plastic pads that line the floor and are now covered with manure and soiled straw, which is then composted for later use in our garden.

Second, I sweep out any remaining straw or droppings and then spray the entire henhouse with Manna Pro Poultry Protector, paying special attention to the roosting bars and nesting boxes. This product is an all-natural solution designed to combat pests such as mites, lice, fleas and ticks.

Next, I use a hose to clean the pads and then place them on the chicken tractor where they will air out for a week. Of course, before positioning the soiled pads there, I remove the previous week’s ones and put them on the floor of the coup.

Last, I cover the pads with a generous layer of fresh straw and shake food-grade diatomaceous earth over the straw, once more especially concentrating on the roosting bars and nesting boxes.