WINTER COOP PREP

It’s really important in the winter months to keep a clean coop, nesting boxes and all. This ensures the health of your chickens and allows them to thrive even when temperatures drop below freezing.

Are you ready to get started? Grab your tools and let’s get cleaning!

Must have tools to clean up:
1) shovel
2) pitch fork
3) broom to knock cobwebs off ceiling
4) putty knife/drywall scraper

I personally do not use diatomaceous earth to kill dust mites and pests, but instead use herbs to keep things clean. After cleaning and placing new straw into the nesting boxes, add whatever herbs you have in abundance. I’m using comfrey and salvia today! Other herbs could be thyme, rosemary, peppermint, oregano, and basil.

Choosing bedding for the coop is personal preference, and what works best for us is straw. We use it in the nesting boxes and floor of the coop because all that we clean out goes straight into the garden and is great for insulation in the winter. Other options include hemp, wood chips, sawdust, and sand.

We have chosen to remove lights from the coop to allow our chickens to rest during the winter months and go with the flow of nature. To make up for the lack of fresh eggs during this season, I waterglass eggs during the summer while the chickens lay in abundance. It is so easy and works out really well to give them a break and us eggs throughout the colder season.