Your chicken coop and roll away nesting boxes, just like your own home, require regular cleaning and maintenance. In the case of chickens however, cleaning up does not serve only an aesthetic purpose but is performed to ensure the health and well-being of your chickens.

Here are the action steps for a perfect coop cleanup:

1. Remove all debris, feathers, nesting materials, stains and bird droppings from the area. This may take some time, depending on the size of your coop. Try to scrape out as much bird droppings as possible at this step because it will make the subsequent steps much easier. Droppings won't soften with water or a cleansing solution so the more you take out now, the less work there will be later.

2. Spray down the enclosure with a garden hose. You'll want to clean up any dust, debris and dirt that has accumulated from your previous scraping and shoveling. If there is a substantial number of debris remaining, repeat step one.

3. Wash every surface of the coop. Pay special attention to window sills, ceiling trusses, and wall sills, as well as any other surface that may acquire dirt and dust. The washing solution should be a mild alkali such as a baking soda combined with hot water at 160°F (~70°C) or above. 

4. Use a natural cleaning product like vinegar to disinfect the chicken nesting boxes and coop. Do not use bleach, since it is far too harsh for animals to bear and can be poisonous to the chickens if it hasn't dried entirely. Vinegar, however, provides very comparable cleansing properties without the unpleasant consequences. Mix equal parts vinegar and water to produce a cleaning solution and mop up the area for an all-natural cleaning. Take a hand brush or a thick broom and clean the floors and walls to free any lingering droppings, debris or dirt.

5. Sweep away any remaining standing water. Once done, let the coop and nest boxes dry naturally. Fresh air will assist to alleviate any lingering vinegar smell (which can get quite strong), and sunlight will aid in the disinfecting process as well.

6. Inspect your coop and make any necessary repairs. This is a good time to look for any coop access points you may have missed out on. These are likely to be used by sneaky rodents so make sure the outside and inside of the building are fully sealed. Fill the hole with a small amount of spray foam insulation, then fill it with fine steel wool and finish with some spray foam.

7. Disinfect. This is the last step in the cleaning process which you may decide to employ. Disinfectants should be used only after properly cleaning the building and equipment, and ideally immediately after rinsing. Disinfecting sprays are easy to use and you are likely to have them around the house even if it wasn't for your chicken coop. A proper, full-on fumigation, may be required in case of any disease outbreaks. You need to be very careful however while performing it and allow for sufficient time to pass before getting the birds back in the coop.

Conclusion

By failing to clean up your chicken coop on a regular basis, you expose your flock to sickness. Individuals who do not regularly clean their chicken coops risk losing birds to infections that may easily be prevented with routine cleaning. Maintaining a clean chicken coop can help prevent the transmission of germs and will assist you in keeping your flock healthy.

Cleaning a chicken coop benefits you in more ways than one as you enter to collect your eggs and smell a clean coop. However, it is helpful to your flock. A clean coop prevents germs from migrating between chickens, while also providing a clean environment for eggs, lowering the quantity of bacteria on your eggs and the time required to wash them. Most importantly, cleaning a chicken coop and bedding allows you to observe any new changes, such as chicken droppings, and respond appropriately.

 

While it might be challenging to protect your hens from everything, there are a few things you can do when it comes to predators. The most effective and efficient way of protecting your birds is to keep your birds in a safe run and coop. Chickens are practically defenseless against majority of predators. And not because they are not intelligent (in reality it is quite the opposite, chickens are very smart), but because they are truly unable to hide, outrun or defend themselves. Your chickens therefore have to rely on you to protect them, day and night. Here are a few precautions you can take to keep your flock secure.

#1 Move your Chickens

With their eyes closed and still, chickens become easy prey after the light of day fades. Nighttime is also when most of the predators are active, which makes this the best time to relocate your chickens to a more secure location. To catch your bird and move her, quickly lift her with one hand gripping her two feet together firmly yet gently and have one hand holding her breast.

#2 Use Dogs as Guards

Livestock guardian dogs are arguably the most commonly utilized and well-known animal for chicken protection. Dogs are clever, trainable, and excellent friends. But to some species of predators, they are terrifying - and that's of course a good thing. Just keep in mind that you may also need to train your dog to avoid the possibility, however small, of your guardian dog turning into a predator. Some of the most well-known dog breeds known to offer good company and protection to chickens would be Akbash, Kuvasz and Great Pyrenees.

#3 Roosters

A rooster is a traditional chicken protector, and many free-range farmers maintain one for this purpose! Their natural function is to guard hens against predators, and many will risk their lives to do so. It may be prudent to select a large breed rooster, such as a Brahma, or even a more belligerent rooster, such as a game cock.

However, roosters may be hostile against humans and other animals, including domestic cats, dogs, and even other livestock. They can also exhaust the hens if their wants outweigh those of the hens, which is why it's critical to choose one that is kind and respectful toward your flock.

Additionally, you will need to replace the rooster if killed, as some roosters opt to self-save. Even if a rooster gets killed, a predator may pursue the hens. While getting inexpensive or even free roosters is straightforward, locating one that has all the traits of a strong protector while also being kind to birds, or a rooster of a particular breed, may be more difficult.

#4 Electric Fencing

Electric fence is a viable option for poultry security. It can be built in two main ways. The first one would be to construct a static coop and wrap an electric wire around the bottom of it, preventing even burrowing predators from entering.

Another approach would be to safeguard your hens using a full fledged electric net fence. Painted mild steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel, and aluminum are common materials for electrified palisade fences.

#5 Traps

Traps can be very effective against predators, but be sure to investigate the safest type for the animal you're attempting to capture. This is an option to use sparingly if all other efforts fail as it may also end up incurring more damage than benefit. Just imagine some other undeserving animal falls into the trap which was not intended for it.

#6 Predator Lights

Acutely aware of their surroundings, wild animals that hunt or eat at night have heightened senses. To avoid being spotted, they will only feed in a safe environment. Predator lights generate a bright flash of light through twin red LED lights, which animals mistake for the eyes of a larger predator, therefore deterring them from attacking. Wild animals are forced to escape the area due to this inducing the flight reaction in them. It appears to be a straightforward notion, yet it is very effective!

Conclusion

Predators are here to stay, but of course nobody wants them around their chickens. Find out what the most common predators in you area are and decide which of the above options (or some others) would be the most suitable to protect your flock. It is very saddening to lose chickens to predators so putting in place a few of the methods concurrently is really something that you should consider. You also need a peace of mind knowing your hens are safe! 

The two main and broad reasons why we keep backyard chickens are economics and simple enjoyment derived from raising an animal. From a purely economic perspective, chickens give us food and in some cases, if you have a surplus of eggs, you may even make a little more money on the side if you choose to sell the eggs your chickens produce. There is also the option of using chickens to fertilize your garden. Economics aside, there is a lot of joy in learning about and caring for other animals. There are many psychological benefits as well, provided of course that the job of caring for chickens isn’t too stressful (and it really shouldn’t be once you understand the basics of chicken keeping).

Perhaps it is all of us trying to stay sane in these crazy times or a movement toward self-sustainability that is driving the backyard chicken keeping trend nowadays. One thing is certain, backyard chicken keeping community is exploding in popularity! Flocks are growing up across towns, the countryside, and everywhere in between—wherever you look, where there is a backyard, there's a chicken! So, how much does it cost to maintain a small scale backyard flock? 

Before you do anything else, check with the local authorities and community that you comply with local chicken keeping rules. In majority of cases, you will need to apply for a permit to keep chickens. Usually the permit fees would consist of a one-off fee, followed by annual renewal fees. For reference, initial application to keep chickens in Saint Paul, Minnesota will set you back $26-76 and subsequently $16-28 for renewal (based on the number of chickens). In Grand Rapids, Michigan, you'll have to pay $50. Then, every year, you'll have to pay $10 to renew your permit.

When you have your permit, here’s what else you should be thinking of before becoming a fully fledged chicken keeper:

#1 Chicken Coop

There is a vast difference in the coops available and how much they cost. Those with the DIY gene may want to build their own coop from the ground up. For the rest of us simple mortals, there is a range of prefabricated coops that can house flocks of 1 to 50 birds and more!

So you have two options at this point; you may build your chicken coop or buy a pre-built one. Here are the differences and the advantages and disadvantages between the two:

a) DIY Chicken Coop

If you're very handy, you might be able to build a coop out of recyclable materials for relatively little money. Old wood, sheet metal, and fence all create excellent chicken coop components. You can even use an old washing machine! If you utilize recycled items, be sure they don't contain anything harmful to your hens. Sharp edges, loose wires, and rusted nails are all risks to be aware of while constructing an animal shelter out of repurposed materials.

b) Purchase a completely assembled chicken coop

If you're unsure of your ability to build a coop yourself or lack the necessary time and energy, a prefab chicken coop is definitely the way to go. When buying a chicken coop, look for one made by a business that knows birds and their requirements. Nesting boxes, roosting places above ground, and enough ventilation are all features of a high-quality coop. Keep in mind who the predators in your area may be and ensure that the coop provides protection against those predators. Most chicken coop’s price range is from $249 - $2000 and they are suitable for those with only a few chickens all the way to those with a sizeable backyard flock of up to 40-50 hens or more.

#2 Chickens

The exact price varies considerably based on the bird's breed and age at purchase. For day-old chicks of common breeds (common in the US at least) like Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock, and Australorp, the typical cost is roughly $2.00-$5.00/bird. Chicks of rarer varieties, such as Easter Eggers, may cost up to $30 per bird.

Chickens are frequently sold at four ages: day-old chicks, pullets, point-of-lay birds, and mature hens. If you don't have much experience yet, start with point-of-lay birds. Since starting off may be difficult overall, it's nice that you get a confidence boost at least in terms of eggs being produced almost right away. Later on you can explore getting younger birds, as you become more familiar with the needs of chicks. 

#3 Feed

Feed is obviously a recurring expense. You can get away with letting your birds free range and rely on kitchen scraps to feed them but it is always a good idea to have a standard layer feed and some treats available just to fill up any nutritional gaps. A 50lb layer feed would cost about $30 and for a 5 bird coop fed only on layer feed, this can last for more than a month. A good estimate is that a chick needs between a half-cup to a full-cup of feed on a daily basis. Our black soldier fly grubs are an excellent choice for extra calcium and protein and you can save by signing up for a monthly delivery of grubs.

#4 Bedding

This is an additional recurring expense of chicken farming and you are likely to find many arguments for and against each but the options are quite a few, from shavings, sand to straw and others. Straw is often priced between $5 and $10 per bale (14"x18"x36") and other options will set you back for about the same. If you are getting an average size coop, count an additional $20 per month for bedding.

#5 Others

Apart from the primary expenditures associated with backyard chicken farming, there will always be those small extras that tend to pop up from time to time or that are an extension of the most basic setup such as heat lamps, feeders and waterers, electric fence, shade mesh and other items.

Conclusion

To sum up, the costs of chicken keeping vary depending on the equipment, size of the coop and the chickens you will choose. A minimum starting price would be around 700$ for 3 to 7 hens but it can go up to a couple of thousand if you want to splurge. Yes, it may sound a bit pricey, especially if you are on a tight budget but remember that your hens, your chicken coop and many other items can last for years. This also means that you should not rush into starting your chicken coop, since once you have them, your chickens are here to stay. But you will benefit from the fresh supply of eggs, your garden from a natural fertilizer and your family and you from an extra company.