Can Cleaning Out Your Chicken Coop Make You Sick?

How to Safely Clean Your Chicken Coop

Easy Tips for a Clean Coop and a Healthy Family

Cleaning your chicken coop is one of the best ways to keep your chickens happy, your yard fresh, and your family safe. A clean coop helps stop bad smells, germs, and bugs—and it can even help your garden grow better.

Why Clean the Coop?

Chickens poop a lot! One adult chicken makes about 1 to 2 pounds of poop every week. That’s like a big bag of apples each month—just in droppings!

Here’s what that looks like:

• 1 chicken = up to 8 pounds of poop each month
• 6 chickens = over 300 pounds in 6 months!

If that waste builds up, it can cause:

• Bad smells
• Mold and ammonia
• Bugs and pests like flies, mites, and even mice
• Health problems for chickens and people

Regular cleaning keeps the coop dry, safe, and much more comfortable for your birds.

Chicken poop can spray up to 1–2 feet, especially if the chicken is startled, excited, or has loose droppings. Most of the time, poop just falls straight down, especially when they're roosting. But when chickens are walking, flapping, or aiming off the edge of a roost, they can shoot poop out with some surprising force! Can we say nasty?!

That’s why it’s smart to place roost bars away from walls, use dropping boards or liners, and keep water sources away from roosting areas to avoid splash zones.

Most of the poop happens at night when the chickens are sleeping on their roosts. That’s why it’s important to clean under the roost bars often or use the deep litter method to help manage it.

Are Removable Roost Bars Worth It?

We'd say so!  With most droppings falling straight down when the hens sleep, having removable roost bars is a must have. Make cleaning roost bars simple by lifting them out and spraying them off with a hose.

Chicken Coops from Driftless Outdoors come with removable roost bars for easy cleaning. The Hen House Collection coops also have removable roost bars as an add-on feature. 

Try the Deep Litter Method

The deep litter method lets bedding build up over time. Chickens scratch and mix it, and the lower layers start to compost inside the coop. Just add fresh bedding as needed. It keeps the coop warmer in winter and takes less time to clean. You’ll still need to do a full clean-out every few months—and don’t forget the mask when you do!

Worried About the Deep Litter Compost Destroying Your Coop?

Well, problem solved! Hen House Collection coops come with optional Deep Litter Coating to protect the walls and make for easy cleaning. The coating is 12 inches high and covers all four walls.

Litter Trays for Easy Cleaning

To make chicken caretaking even easier, Hen House Collection has come out with Litter Trays with a Clean Out Lid as an add-on option for their chicken coops. Simply lift or drop the lid from the outside of the coop, pull out the litter tray, and scoop the poop into your compost pile.

Wear a Mask and Stay Safe

When you clean, wear a dust mask to protect your lungs. Dust from droppings can carry germs and tiny particles that can cause:

• Histoplasmosis – a lung sickness from fungus in chicken poop
• Salmonella – spreads by touching dirty surfaces
• Avian flu – rare, but possible in poultry environments

Also wear gloves, old clothes, and wash up well when you're done.

How to Clean a Chicken Coop

• Move the chickens out while you clean.
• Scoop out all old bedding and droppings.
• Scrub with vinegar and water. No bleach needed—vinegar is safer for chickens.
• Rinse and let it dry.
• Add fresh bedding. Your chickens will love their clean space!

Safe Cleaners for Your Chicken Coop

Cleaning your coop helps keep your chickens healthy. Water and vinegar work great, but here are a few other safe cleaners you can use:

• Castile Soap
  A gentle soap (like Dr. Bronner’s) mixed with water to scrub dirt and droppings.
• Baking Soda
  Helps remove smells and scrub tough spots. You can mix it with water or vinegar.
• Hydrogen Peroxide (3%)
  Good for cleaning surfaces. Use a little and rinse well.
• Essential Oils (very small amounts)
  Lavender or lemon oil (just a few drops in water) can help clean and freshen. Don’t use strong oils like clove or eucalyptus—they can hurt chickens.
• Enzyme Cleaners
  Natural cleaners like Good Egg Wash are safe for surfaces and help with smells and droppings.

Do Not Use:

• Bleach
• Ammonia cleaners
• Strong products like Pine-Sol or Lysol

These can be dangerous to chickens.

What Kind of Bedding Can You Use?

• Pine Shavings – Soft and easy to clean
• Straw – Warm but must stay dry
• Hemp Bedding – Soaks up moisture, low dust, and lasts a long time
• Sand – Great for scooping like a litter box
• Nest Box Mats – Keep eggs cleaner and give hens a comfy laying spot

Give Chickens a Dust Bath

Chickens don’t bathe in water—they use dust baths to stay clean and get rid of mites and lice. You can make one using:

• Dry dirt or sand
• A little wood ash or food-safe diatomaceous earth (optional)
• A bin or a shaded spot in your yard

Can You Compost Chicken Poop?

Yes—and it’s great for your garden! But you need to let it break down first.

• Never use fresh poop on plants. It’s too strong and can burn them.
• Mix droppings with old bedding and let it sit in a pile for 6 to 12 months.
• Once composted, it becomes dark, crumbly, and safe to use.

What Chicken Poop Compost Can Do for Your Garden

Composted chicken poop is full of natural nutrients like:

• Nitrogen – Helps plants grow big and green
• Phosphorus – Helps flowers bloom and fruits grow
• Potassium – Builds strong roots and stems

Use it in your garden beds or mix it into your soil before planting. Your vegetables, flowers, and herbs will grow stronger, faster, and healthier with this natural fertilizer.

Cleaning Eggs with Good Egg Wash

When your coop is clean and your hens are laying, you may notice some dirty eggs. Good Egg Wash is a natural enzyme cleaner that’s safe and gentle for washing your farm-fresh eggs. It removes dirt without harsh chemicals and helps keep your eggs clean and safe for your family.

• Gently removes dirt and droppings
• No harsh chemicals
• Perfect for backyard eggs

Clean Coop, Happy Chickens, Better Garden

A clean chicken coop means fewer pests, healthier birds, and a safer home for everyone. Compost your droppings to feed your garden naturally, and use Good Egg Wash to finish the job right.

Need supplies like hemp bedding, deep litter liners, nest box mats, compost tools, or Good Egg Wash?

Shop now at Family Backyard Store for everything you need to keep your coop clean and your chickens healthy!