Having a concrete floor in your chicken coop provides a durable, easy to clean surface. However, concrete can be prone to staining, odor absorption, and cracking if not properly maintained.
Proper care and cleaning of your concrete chicken coop floor will help keep your chickens healthy and your coop looking its best.
Regular Maintenance
Carrying out regular maintenance on your concrete cooped floor is key to keeping it in good condition.
Here are some tips:
Sweep Daily: Sweep up manure, feathers, and any other debris from the floor each day. This will prevent a buildup that can lead to staining and odor absorption.
Disinfect Weekly: Using a chicken coop disinfectant, thoroughly mop the floor once a week. This will kill any bacteria or pathogens that could make your flock sick.
Scrub Monthly: Every 4-6 weeks, give the floor a deep scrubbing using a stiff bristle broom, mild detergent, and water. This will remove any set-in dirt or stains.
Seal Annually: Resealing the concrete annually will help protect it from moisture damage and staining. Use a concrete sealer made for poultry coops.
Inspect for Damage: Check the floor frequently for any cracks or damage that may need repair. Address issues right away to prevent further deterioration. Consider strengthening your chicken coop's concrete to mitigate this issue.
Proper Cleaning Techniques
Using the right methods and products for cleaning your concrete coop floor is important to avoid damage. Here are some tips:
Remove Bedding: Before washing, remove all bedding material and droppings from the floor. This prevents clogging drains or spreading mess.
Use a Stiff Brush: A hard bristle scrub brush will help agitate and lift dirt from textured concrete floors. Avoid wire brushes that could scratch.
Try a Pressure Washer: For a deeper clean, use a pressure washer on floors. Be sure to select a wider spray nozzle and keep pressure low to avoid damaging concrete.
Choose Proper Detergents: Clean concrete with pH-neutral detergents, avoiding acidic cleaners that could etch the surface. Detergents made for poultry use are best.
Rinse Thoroughly: After washing, rinse the floor completely with clean water to remove all detergent residue that could attract dirt.
Allow to Dry: Let the concrete dry fully before adding new bedding. Remaining moisture could breed bacteria. A squeegee speeds drying. Consider waterproofing your chicken coop's concrete to further prevent moisture issues.
Preventing Common Concrete Problems
With proper care, you can avoid some common issues with concrete coop floors:
Staining: Regular cleaning and sealing will prevent permanent staining. For current stains, use a poultice or whitening cleaner made for concrete.
Odor Absorption: Sealants help prevent odors from soaking in. For existing smells, treat with an enzyme cleaner or deodorizer made for concrete.
Etching: To avoid etched areas from acid, only use pH-neutral cleaners. Seek repair help if etching occurs.
Cracking: To prevent cracks, control moisture and temperature changes in the coop. Repair minor cracks with sealant; larger cracks need professional patching. Check out our guide on how to prevent chicken coop concrete cracks for more tips.
Pitting: This concrete damage is caused by materials like chicken manure eating away at the surface over time. Sealing the floor annually prevents pitting. Learn more about the environmental impact of chicken coop concrete to understand why this is important.
Scaling: Flaking off of the concrete's surface layer is prevented by sealing. Have damaged areas patched and resealed.
Allow to Dry: Let the concrete dry fully before adding new bedding. Remaining moisture could breed bacteria. A squeegee speeds drying. To further improve the comfort and safety of your coop, consider looking into chicken coop insulation.
Seal Annually: Resealing the concrete annually will help protect it from moisture damage and staining. Be mindful of the chicken coop's concrete thickness as it can affect the amount of sealer required. Use a concrete sealer made for poultry coops.
Helpful Products and Tools
Using specialized products and tools will make cleaning and caring for your concrete coop floor much easier:
Poultry-Safe Detergents: Look for phosphate-free cleaners with natural enzymes to break down organic matter.
Stiff Brush/Broom: For regular scrubbing, a tough bristle broom or brush is essential to lift dirt and debris.
Concrete Degreaser: If oils cause stains, use a degreaser before washing. Check it's safe for animal housing.
pH Test Strips: Test strips ensure cleaners you use are pH-neutral and won't damage concrete.
Concrete Sealer: Sealants made for poultry containment areas will protect from moisture damage and stains.
Concrete Poultice: Poultice powder mixed with water lifts stubborn stains from concrete floors when applied as a paste.
Squeegee: A wide floor squeegee speeds drying after washing concrete. It quickly moves water off the surface.
Crack Filler: Use concrete filler rated for coops to patch any minor cracks that appear in the floor.
Tips for Deep Cleaning
Over time, even well-maintained concrete floors need a deeper cleansing. Here are some tips for tackling this:
Do a deep clean every 6-12 months, or whenever odor or staining persists after regular washing.
Remove all chickens, bedding, and items from the coop to allow full access.
Use a pressure washer if possible, following safety precautions. Adjust pressure to avoid damaging concrete.
For enclosed coops, use an industrial mop and new bucket of water/detergent to thoroughly scrub all surfaces.
After washing, rinse multiple times with clean water and squeegee dry.
Allow the floor to dry for 1-2 days before letting birds back in and adding fresh bedding.
Treat any stains after drying using a poultice scrub or whitening cleaner recommended for concrete.
Seal the concrete after deep cleaning for maximum stain protection and odor blocking. Learn more about the pros and cons of concrete chicken coops to decide if this material is the right choice for you.
With occasional thorough deep cleans in addition to your regular maintenance, you can keep a concrete cooped floor looking and smelling great for years!
Let the tips above guide you. And don't forget, if you decide that a concrete coop is not for you, there are alternatives for concrete in chicken coops that might better suit your needs.
If you're ready to take on the task, we have a guide on building a chicken coop with concrete to help you get started. Don't forget to consider