It is important you try to keep your chicken coop clean not only for the health and happiness of your chickens, but also because a dirty coop will encourage flies and pests such as rats.

How often you clean your coop may depend on your environment, but generally I recommend doing a thorough clean at least once a week and cleaning the feeders and waterers daily to ensure there are no blockages.

A cost effective, economic method I use is to put fresh bedding into my nesting boxes each day.  I then move the old bedding to the chicken coop floor and then finally the compost bin.

Once a month I will use a bleach of a couple of tablespoons in a bucket of water and give the waterers a really good clean.

To get the most out of your Chicken Coop, you will want to make sure it is well maintained. This will increase the life of it and ensure it remains safe and healthy for your chickens. I have found the following checks work well.

• At least once a month do a coop walk around. Make sure your chicken run and any fencing you have is secure and there have been no holes created by rats, stoats or other predators.
• Make sure the doors – the chickens’ door and the egg collection doors continue to open freely and easily. If they don’t, either replace or repair.
• Check your feeders and waterers daily to ensure they are clean and water and food continue to flow freely. Clean at least once a week with chlorine bleach.
• Regularly remove the build-up of poop from your coop. This is actually very good manure for your garden due to its high nitrogen and phosphate content. If left, flies and other parasites will be attracted to it and your coop will develop an unhealthy smell.

Follow these four steps to keep your Chicken Coop in good nick.