Keeping Pet Chickens - Keep Those Ladies Happy and Healthy in a Clean and Comfortable Home
Obviously you want to make sure that your feathered ladies have the best environment in which to live and produce those delicious eggs.
So, ensuring that the chicken coop clean, is essential when keeping pet chickens.
It is a fact that chickens poop everywhere but it is not something that is welcome in their home, so here we offer some tips on how to keep the chicken coop clean.
Chickens tend to poop mainly at night when they are roosting.
So one solution is to build a "poop pit" under their roost, so that most of their droppings can be easily removed.
Any type of waterproof, removable surface strategically placed under the roost will make the job of cleaning so much easier.
Of course it will be necessary to cover the floor of the coop with some type of litter to help keep it clean and also dilute the smell from the droppings.
There are many types of shredded organic material which can be used.
Straw makes an excellent litter.
However, do not use sawdust as it easily becomes airborne and breathed in by the hens which is bad for their respiratory systems.
It is very important to prevent the litter becoming mouldy as mould is dangerous for your birds and more on this important subject a little later.
There are several ways you can go about littering your coop •Start with a small amount and continue to add fresh layers as required.
With this method you need to clean out the coop once or twice a year.
•Start with a large amount and remove it gradually, when required, as it gets soiled.
•Use a little and replace it every one or two weeks.
Now back to the subject of mould.
Here thorough cleaning is vital.
Better still, ensure that mould never develops, as the saying goes "prevention is better than cure".
Should mould develop, you will need to destroy it with a mild bleach solution and then ensure that everywhere is thoroughly rinsed with water.
Unfortunately, chickens are not able to tolerate the fumes caused by the bleach and would not be able to use the coop for up to a week.
Unless you have the luxury of two coops, ensure that mould never develops anywhere in the coop.
For routine cleaning and sanitation of the coop, use a mild detergent dissolved in water and then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
You should only need to do this a few times each year.
So, with a little effort you will be able to keep your flock of feathered ladies happy, healthy and in prime egg laying condition.
Finally, for those who are considering keeping pet chickens, then one of the most important decisions you will have to make is how to give them the best home.
Choose well as this will be your main investment in what will be a most rewarding pastime.
So, ensuring that the chicken coop clean, is essential when keeping pet chickens.
It is a fact that chickens poop everywhere but it is not something that is welcome in their home, so here we offer some tips on how to keep the chicken coop clean.
Chickens tend to poop mainly at night when they are roosting.
So one solution is to build a "poop pit" under their roost, so that most of their droppings can be easily removed.
Any type of waterproof, removable surface strategically placed under the roost will make the job of cleaning so much easier.
Of course it will be necessary to cover the floor of the coop with some type of litter to help keep it clean and also dilute the smell from the droppings.
There are many types of shredded organic material which can be used.
Straw makes an excellent litter.
However, do not use sawdust as it easily becomes airborne and breathed in by the hens which is bad for their respiratory systems.
It is very important to prevent the litter becoming mouldy as mould is dangerous for your birds and more on this important subject a little later.
There are several ways you can go about littering your coop •Start with a small amount and continue to add fresh layers as required.
With this method you need to clean out the coop once or twice a year.
•Start with a large amount and remove it gradually, when required, as it gets soiled.
•Use a little and replace it every one or two weeks.
Now back to the subject of mould.
Here thorough cleaning is vital.
Better still, ensure that mould never develops, as the saying goes "prevention is better than cure".
Should mould develop, you will need to destroy it with a mild bleach solution and then ensure that everywhere is thoroughly rinsed with water.
Unfortunately, chickens are not able to tolerate the fumes caused by the bleach and would not be able to use the coop for up to a week.
Unless you have the luxury of two coops, ensure that mould never develops anywhere in the coop.
For routine cleaning and sanitation of the coop, use a mild detergent dissolved in water and then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
You should only need to do this a few times each year.
So, with a little effort you will be able to keep your flock of feathered ladies happy, healthy and in prime egg laying condition.
Finally, for those who are considering keeping pet chickens, then one of the most important decisions you will have to make is how to give them the best home.
Choose well as this will be your main investment in what will be a most rewarding pastime.