Outdoor Chicken Coop Maintenance: What to Know (and What NOT to Do)
- If you’ve got chooks, you’ve got coop mess — it’s part of the deal. The trick is keeping it dry, airy, and easy to clean so it never gets out of hand.
The golden rule: Dry • Airy • Fresh bedding
- Dry: damp bedding = smell, mould, and more pests.
- Airy: ventilation stops humidity and that “stale coop” vibe.
- Fresh bedding: a quick swap beats a big feral clean later.
Quick routine (no big dramas)
- Daily (1–3 mins): fresh water, quick poop check under the roost, swap any damp bedding, latch check.
- Weekly (10–20 mins): remove the gross bedding, scrape roost bars, tidy nesting boxes.
- Monthly (30–60 mins): empty out, gentle wash (warm soapy water), and dry fully before re-bedding.
Seasonal tips
- Rainy weather: check for leaks and keep the ground around the coop draining well.
- Summer: shade + airflow, and keep water out of direct sun.
- Cold/windy: block drafts at roost height, but don’t seal ventilation.
What NOT to do (save yourself the headache)
- Don’t shut it up wet after cleaning — mould will move in fast.
- Don’t pressure wash timber like a driveway (it drives water into the wood).
- Don’t block ventilation “to keep them warm” — trapped moisture makes it worse.
- Don’t ignore gaps or loose wire — that’s how pests get invited over.
- Don’t leave spilled feed overnight — rodents will RSVP immediately.
Quick check: galvanised wire
- No sharp ends, no loose edges, fasteners tight.
Final thought
- Keep it dry, keep it airy, keep bedding fresh — your chooks stay happy, eggs stay cleaner, and your timber coop lasts way longer.
