These CHICKEN COOP CLEANING TIPS will lead to a HEALTHIER FLOCK

How I clean my chicken coop using free material I source from local waste streams. I also compare the use of SHAVINGS VS. WOOD CHIPS and the use of CHARCOAL and DIAMATATEOUS EARTH in preventing health issues in my flock.
Harris Farms Free Range Hanging Poultry Feeder 10 Pound: amzn.to/3I9LS2b
Harris Farms 1000304 Poultry Watering Cups, 2 Pack: amzn.to/3J45CXd
Cuisinart CCB-5014 BBQ Grill Cleaning Brush and Scraper: amzn.to/3Id9MKo
USDA Technical report: (charcoal) www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=8b2762...
Charcoal Remedies:
www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=b0d7a0...
Diatomaceous Earth:
www.bing.com/aclk?ld=e85YaZT8...
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#homesteading #compost #chickens

[@callmeallie1432]

Hi I’m not a farmer or anything remotely lol. I’m learning slowly. Thank you! My husband has chickens but I want to learn and do better than him haha

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Lol. Friendly competition is where it's at! 😄

[@georgetteetourneaux3350]

Great video. Not heard info on the charcoal. I do not know where I'd get saw dust, but I have unlimited & year round tree leaves & pine needles- so I use deep bedding which is helpful.

[@Lisa-kz2vb]

This was so helpful, thank you!

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

I'm glad you found or helpful. You're welcome 😊

[@vickinz9335]

Just found you. Loving the content. Very informative. Thank you😊

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Thanks so much:) Glad you are here! 🙂

[@ericjohnson369]

Great video very informative 👏🏻

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Thank you! 😉

[@grider8344]

Thanks for your advice great stuff.

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

You are welcome. Glad you found the video useful! 😉

[@freddieivory625]

Great suggestions, thanks for sharing

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

You are so welcome! Thank you 😊

[@greatfulchristian4314]

Ty. Great ideas, will be using these !

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

You are so welcome!

[@lookingtotheeastreatha7379]

Thank you! Enjoyed your video and content was very, very helpful! Thanks!

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

You are welcome.

[@AJsGreenThumbLLC]

Hello just subscribed to your channel. I enjoy the informative content and most definitely will put it to good use.

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Thank you for subscribing and I'm glad you are enjoying the videos. Welcome to the channel. 🙂

[@paulrobinson3213]

I just found your channel today. Very entertaining and educational videos.

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Thank you. Glad you like the channel and welcome! 🙂

[@wedlinsainval26]

Love your channel. Looking into the homestead lifestyle. Preparing for it.

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Thank you. Glad you are enjoying the content:)

[@MyMamaSez]

The grill brush is such a great idea! Thanks for sharing that.

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

You are so welcome! 😉

[@nikkid1038]

Great suggestions, thorough yet to the point !! Thank you! Definitely subscribing I’m sure you have tons of helpful tips. ❤

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

You are welcome!

[@encantodrawings5086]

You are brilliant! Thank you so much for sharing x

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

You are so welcome!

[@cornbread6616]

Great video 👍🏻

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Thank you!

[@debt1862]

Excellent! Thank you!

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

You are welcome! 😉

[@gingermcfayden3875]

Very well laid out presentation. I am currently gathering as much information as I can before embarking on this new venture! This was the most informative source I've seen on cleaning a coup! Very straightforward! Thank you for this! It is good to know!

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

So glad to hear this. Good luck on your research and new venture moving forward. Thanks for the kind words.

[@wheelsuprn6591]

The grill tool is an excellent idea.

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Awesome glad you like it. Works pretty well. 👌

[@albertgaines9944]

I used to use the brushes they leave little wires. Probally not a problem but I use plastic bristles now it works fine even to scrub concrete

[@marinellahobbyfarm-manongb4891]

Great info… just subbed

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Thanks for the sub! Glad you are here. 😉

[@Xarcell]

Never thought of adding natural charcoal to the coop. Great idea!

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the comment. 👊

[@ourmontanahomestead8880]

I’ve had chickens for years and love your idea of the bbq brush to clean to roosts!

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Works well. Just make sure your chicken brush doesnt look the same as your grillin brush. I'm glad this tip is something you can use! 👋

[@ourmontanahomestead8880]

@@therealprtrhsenteal yes!! For sure :)

[@spagsunfiltered]

Chickens are on the list of things to add to my place this year. We started with ducks and now have geese, but chickens are next. So thanks for the tips. I'll save this video to rewatch close to time.

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Right on brotha. Hope there is at least something in there you can use. I appreciate the feedback. 👍

[@RobBertholf]

excellent.

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Thank you! 🙂

[@ginagaines714]

Love your idea about using the biochar. I'll be lookin into it. I use the deep litter method and only clean out my coop and goat shed in spring and fall. My roost is a 4" oak log with intact bark sitting about 4' above the floor. Most of the hens sleep on it but I have a couple of them that prefer the 2x2 ladder leading up to the roost. I alternate throwing scratch in the compost pile, garden and coop floor throughout the month. Because they churn up the pine shavings regularly, I don't have any odor or ammonia build up. the floor is basically a mini compost pile. I add shavings or leaves about once every other month. I love the low manitenence and also have everything close together in a sort of symbiotic setup. This was the first time I've seen your channel. I can't wait to see what else you have going on. Liked and subscribed!

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Thanks so much Gina! I dig hearing about your setup. It sounds like you have a pretty good system. It is so great when we can find ways to incorporate their everyday activities and behaviors into some benefit. Thanks for subscribing and welcome! 😉

[@ms.royahrens8777]

Just subscribed to your channel today. I’m really enjoying and learning from your videos. What breed are your hens? I am down to 10 hens and lost my Roo last month. Thanks for the BBQ brush tip! I’ve been using a wide putty knife and a wire brush-but the BBQ brush would cut my time down! Thank you-God Bless

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Hey thanks for your comment and thanks for subscribing! We have some dual purpose and mixed breed but the red hens are novogen browns. I'm glad you are enjoying the channel. Welcome!👋

[@LucasBiggs]

By far the most helpful video I've seen on the subject. I've not come across anyone using carbon and it's pretty obvious to me.

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Thank you! Glad you liked the video. 🙂

[@marykh59]

This was so motivating to have hens again. One hen in my 3-hen flock had fly-strike and it was a huge challenge to get her healthy again. We beat it, though. Unfortunately, a new ruling in my area of California made everyone get rid of our chickens👎🏽. Have you dealt with fly strike? Thank you for the great content!

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

I have not dealt with fly strike in chickens but have in cattle. It sure helps to prevent it all together but early detection is key. Sorry to hear you got rid of your chickens. Was that a local or county prohibition?

[@PLJS2018]

Looks the Video’s we have watched and I subscribe!! Yeah !! Thank you

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Thank you for subsciring! Glad to have you here. Hope we can keep delivering useful content for you! Thanks again! 👋

[@wandarettinger5674]

Discovered you today. I'm in Canada and I'm going to try charcoal in my coop.

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Love to hear this! Welcome to the channel. 🙂

[@morningmystfarm2017]

I love how you have netting to keep the birds from roosting where they don't need to be. And the mesh under the floor is awesome. We sometimes have a rat problem, and I should either do that, or simply place concrete on the floor of the coop. I'm actually thinking concrete, because there is a chance of flooding over this coop every few years or so... I also plan on raising the level of dirt behind the coop where the flooding comes from. Long story - working with mistakes my mom made when she started putting infrastructure... she didn't place much more thought other than, that looks like a good spot... oof We are definitely planning to do much better when we start on a second homestead on the same property.

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

That is excellent. There is always room for improvement on existing designs. Concrete floors have many benefits. The only real downside imo to concrete is the permanence of that decision. Thanks for the insight of your setup I dig that! 👌

[@morningmystfarm2017]

@@therealprtrhsenteal As far as permanent - the structure is already permanent. Plus, mom being not so smart placed her coop right by the well!! I'm thinking concrete floors would be a huge safety improvement - plus, once the new homestead area is up and running, that will make a great hay storage space, and concrete is perfect flooring for that.

[@MrMcGillicuddy]

I've been thinking about adding biochar to my litter. I think I'm going to incorporate this next season. I use the deep litter method so I only clean my coop twice a year and I'm putting roughly 4 to 6 feet of fall leaves in the floor space each 6 month period. Ready mixed and chicken shredded leaves. No need for a shredder. I can't stand doing methods that involve power tools to prepare essentials like compost or bedding or mulch for the garden. The stuff compost like a dream when it's so perfectly shredded, mixed and has even dispersed poop. The best part is I never smell poop ever and only clean the coop twice a year.

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Sounds like a good system you have developed. Work smarter not harder indeed! Great work man! 👌

[@leticiaperez9146]

Our bio char in the Philippines comes from rice hulls coconut shells and cobs that vegan in the80's.

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Those are excellent sources of biomass. I have made char out of all of them but only to experimenr. I wish I had access to that feedstock because I really liked the finished product. Especially rice hulls! 👌

[@Quest4TruthUSA]

Adding charcoal (from wood), chips, sounds great. I was going to spay activated EM1 every week to, what do u think?

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

I suppose it would depend on the context in which you are using EM. I wonder if the em1 would be be better utilized directly in your soil and plants. Your call 🤷‍♂️

[@ThePhilippineNomad]

Just watched your Social Media talk at LFTN 2024 - Great Job on Building Your Brand!

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Thanks man. I appreciate ya! 👊

[@JOEZEP54]

Enjoyed your video and content. Over the last 3 months I have been using wood chips & found it much better than any thing I have used so far. My previous coop had a dirt floor & I found deep bedding using mulch was even better. But now with my trailer coop conversion with a wooden floor the wood chips are best. When the chips were dumped off I just used them whenever we had dry weather for a few days. I have a question about the wood chips. In my pile I notice a white mold & it is very wet. Will this dry out or is it turning to mulch? Happy chickening and stay well, Joe Z

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

I agree! Wood chips have more longevity that most other bedding options not to mention they are free and readily available in most areas. The white mold you are seeing may very well be mycelium which is a fungus and vital for the decomposition of woody organic plant material. If it is a dry powdery fungus it is not harmful but if you are concerned you can either remove it altogether or cover it with fresh mulch. Good luck!

[@JOEZEP54]

@@therealprtrhsenteal Thank you for replying 👍

[@PeterWest70]

Besides those tips, is there any contraindications to wiping down any areas with bleach, for additional disinfection? Thanks for all of the above!

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

You can use diluted bleach or hydrogen peroxide. I don't clean my coops with a disinfectant unless there was an illness within the flock but I suppose it could not be harmful to have an extra clean coop if you just wanted to go the extra step. 👌

[@christinagasich8897]

Hi! Love watching your videos. I’m a novice chicken keeper, I’ve only had them for about 10 months. I currently have 9 chickens and do a deep litter of pine mulch that I get from tractor supply. I thought it was advised not to use DE when doing the deep litter method. Did I read wrong? Thanks in advance for any info

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Hi and thanks! 👋 I'm not sure what you specifically have read. Was there a reason given for why the DE was not to be used in that context?

[@christinagasich8897]

I use deep litter but I'm a novice keeper. I'm interested in others opinions on the matter.

[@ahockeymom2978]

Hi I have heard the same about the diatomaceous earth not being used with deep litter bedding because it prohibits the proper composting or breaking down of the bedding waste combination that is supposed to provide heat and other stuff if done right. I’m only 10 months in as well so I appreciate your channel and all your valuable information. Thank you 😁

[@ronaldshort9819]

yes I think that the chickens can get phosphorus or magnesium from the charcoal ...

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Properly made biochar will have no macro or micronutrients. It is great for absorbing odor and removing toxins. It has been shown to be beneficial for the gut health of many different livestock including chickens. Thanks for watching!

[@aaliaj6719]

What do you think about using leaves or shredded leaves as coop bedding?

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Both viable options for sure. My preference would be shredded leaves over not shredded. The shredded leaves will be less likely to become matted anerobic and slimy. I have mixed leaves in with woodchips but havent used 100% leaves for the reasons aforementioned.

[@caitlyntoney5095]

What do you do what it rains violently for days/weeks? Our coop just turns into a big watering hole, even though it is on high ground. EVERYTHING stays wet and saturated for weeks at a time because the rain rarely stops once it gets going. We're having a hard time keeping things dry while also providing ventilation. I'd rather not have my chickens in a solid box, but that's what it is looking like might have to happen.

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

The wet issue can be a real challenge to overcome but how I have dealt with it specifically is to add more carbon in the form of wood chips. Another thing is to ensure proper drainage away from the coop.Dependingbon the size of your coop, tarping to prevent water from entering from wind and rain might be an option. It has acutually been raining here for weeks and it is an issue being addressed currently. Thanks for your question I hope this helps.

[@BigRigRich]

Question: I was wondering, will it be ok to spray the complete inside of the coup with a water downed bleach solution to sterilize everything? I have a neighbor that bought 20 hens and 3 roosters about 6 months back; he and his son n law built a cheap chicken coup and a run. His son n law was supposed to care for the chickens. I gave them some wood chips for bedding initially and they put it down. They really have not cared for the animals like they should have, in my opinion. The inside of the coup is a mess. The run is bare. They have just been bulk feeding them in a feeder in the run. The water is clear in the top, but nasty in the bottom. I started piling up compost, wood cheapskate and hiding food scraps in the piles like I’ve seen in your videos. Man they have fun scratching the piles. I enjoy watching them do it as well. Well, Hank, the most dominant rooster died day before yesterday. Man he was a good looking bird and fun to watch. So today I’m going to take everything out of the coup and deep clean it. I have plenty of wood chips and think I can make my own saw dust by processing some of the wood chips they my mulched a few times. I have some char that I’ve made after watching your videos as well. I’m going to stop and get some DE on the way out there today. I’m going to clean all the nesting boxes and roosting bars. I was wondering, will it be ok to spray the complete inside of the coup with a water downed bleach solution to sterilize everything?

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Yes you can use a dilute bleach solution to kill bacteria and other undesirable pathogens if you have determined a need. It sounds like you have a pretty well thought out system for your flock. They should be happy and healthy. Nice job and happy chickening!

[@CBBC435]

Bio char is a good idea

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Indeed!

[@leticiaperez9146]

Been doing this since the 90's in the Phils. TBE REASON we never had bird flu at all even in commerciallicestick growers' places.

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Sounds like y'all in the phillipines have got it figured out! Great to hear from you. 🙂

[@Not2daysatan]

Great info! Would live oak tree leaves be good for coop?

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

I suspect they might work pretty well however leaves tend to mat so they may not be a great absorbent for the manure. Generally bedding with a higher carbon to nitrogen ratio like straw, woodchips or shavings tend to be a great option. I might make sense to mix the leaves with some carbon. Give it a try and let me know.

[@Not2daysatan]

@@therealprtrhsenteal thanks!

[@wheelsuprn6591]

Great video. Where do you get free char?

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

I make my own char! I have various video in my biochar playlist. 😉

[@StevenDavisPhoto]

Dude! Great video. Also, I so rarely see black farmers. We need more :)

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Thanks man! 👋

[@2286customx]

Hey! I’ve always had the understanding that DE kills mites but also kills the micro bio that’s apart of composting. You either use DE or deep litter method. Am I misinformed?

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Yeah there is alot of conflicting info regarding this and unfortunately I don't have a solid answer on this one. I have sought to find a credible answer but have come up empty. My assumption is that excessive amounts of DE would have a similar negative effect on soil micro biology even though many garden blogs and articles tout the benefits of using DE in garden soil. The articles I've seen are unsupported by scientific studies and appear to be opinion based. My approach to the use of DE is targeted specifically in the coops and my belief is the amount that makes it into my compost is negligible and the benefit of a reduced parasite load for my chickens out weighs the minimal risk (in my opinion) to the soil microbiome. As with all of my videos I would encourage folks to do their own research and come to your own conclusions. I appreciate your question and if you find a credible source of information backed by scientific study please let me know. Thanks for watching! 👌

[@meldaelifkeskin1403]

thanks a lot for the info you gave, I will have some chickens soon in my new place. Where I was before we added some magnesium chloride solution to their water to keep them protected against all sorts of illnesses. horses, dogs, cats and chickens... Mg Cl2 is cheap and really works. we prepared the solution in advance (20 gm of it (chrystals) in a litre of water) and each time we changed their water we added from this solution again 20-30 gm of the solution we had prepared and kept in a glass jar, in a litre of water. ıf there is a sick animal we gave some from the solution into its mouth directly. I learned this from a book by marie-france muller "medecines douces pour animaux" (published in 2012 in turkish).

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

You are welcome. Thanks for sharing your recipe! 👌

[@elimonterroso1129]

Would wood shavings work just as good?

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Absolutely. I use wood shavings when I can get them for free and actually reduce better in compost making. 👌

[@StevenDavisPhoto]

Most folks say not to use sawdust in the run because the fine particles can be breathed in and irritate their lungs. I'm a woodworker, and am inclined to agree. Your thoughts?

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

It certainly may be an irritant but I have not experienced any widespread respiratory issues with by bitds and I use sawdust, biochar, and woodchips. I am not advocating people follow this template however I am offering as information for what has worked for me.

[@OliviANDixie]

Please be careful with wire brushes; any piece of wire that breaks off could be swallowed by a chicken and perforate the organs. Not trying to be judgmental, just wanted to share a helpful idea to consider. Awesome video, love the use of char. 💕

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Thanks for the perspective and tip. I haven't had any problems with the wire issue at least not that I am aware. Certainly plausible since chickens will sample most everything at least once. Glad you like the video thanks:)

[@laurahodgins8859]

D you think I can shred cardboard as bedding

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

I suppose it would work although I wonder how well it would stand up to the rigors of the constantly pooping chicken. If you try this let me know how well it worked for you.

[@xxvodanhxx]

Do you not wear a face mask when scrapping poop? It kicks up poop dust? The fine sawdust doesn't cause respiratory problems for the chickens ?

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

No I don't worry about the dust from their manure. The sawdust doesn't not pose any risk to the chickens that I can tell. 🤷‍♂️

[@carlamahlberg1854]

Can the charcoal get wet, without harming them?

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Yes. Getting it wet actually helps to suppress the airborne dust so that would not be harmful. That said, water added to the coop bedding will activate the composting process so that would not be advisable. The best solution is to add more wood chips or other carbon bedding to capture the manure and char in a deep mulch.

[@KaraPhillippi]

Where do you get free charcoal?

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

I make it.

[@UristMcFarmer]

Wonderful, inspiring video! I only skimmed the other comments so I'm sorry if someone said this already, but inhaling diatomaceous earth can cause lung scarring. If you're sprinkling it around like that, you need to wear a mask. Maybe you can get away with not wearing one if you're just gathering eggs, but if you're moving the bedding and/or for some other reason there's a dust cloud having to do with the bedding or coop, you need to treat it as an inhalation hazard.

[@therealprtrhsenteal]

Yeah good suggestion for sure. Anytime particulates are airborne respiratory protection is a good idea. Thanks for your suggestion and glad you liked the video:)