Biosecurity Basics: Cleaning & Sanitizing for a Healthy Flock

Biosecurity isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a fundamental part of keeping your flock healthy and happy. And it’s not just about cleaning. To truly protect your chickens from harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi, you need to both clean and sanitize their environment. Many backyard chicken keepers don’t realize there’s a difference, but understanding why both steps are necessary can make all the difference in preventing disease.

Cleaning vs. Sanitizing: What’s the Difference?

Think of it like washing your own dishes. Imagine scrubbing all the dried-up food off your plates—but using a toilet brush to do it. Gross, right? Even if your dishes look clean, they’re not truly safe to eat off of unless they’ve been properly sanitized.

Now, picture the opposite scenario. Let’s say you hate doing dishes (we get it), so instead of scrubbing off the stuck-on egg yolk and gravy, you just soak your dirty dishes in bleach water. Sure, you’ve killed off some germs, but that crusty, sanitized gunk is still sitting there. Would you want to eat off of that plate? No thanks!

This is why you have to do both—clean first, then sanitize.

• Cleaning removes dirt, debris, and organic matter from surfaces. Think of it as getting rid of the visible mess—scrubbing feeders, waterers, and roosts to remove gunk.
• Sanitizing kills the bacteria, viruses, and fungi that are left behind—even after cleaning. It ensures your flock isn’t exposed to harmful pathogens that could make them sick.

Skipping either step puts your chickens at risk. A surface that hasn’t been properly cleaned can harbor germs, and a dirty surface that’s only been sanitized can still be a breeding ground for toxins and disease.

What Needs to Be Cleaned & Sanitized?

The short answer is anything your chickens come in contact with. 

Daily & Weekly:

• Feeders & waterers – Scrub them out regularly to remove dirt, bedding, and feed buildup. Then sanitize to kill any lingering germs.
• Dishes for grit or oyster shells – Chickens eat directly from these, so they need to be kept clean. 
• Your hands – Wash up after handling chickens or their equipment. Just like you wouldn’t eat after handling a litter box, you don’t want to transfer germs from your flock to your food.

Occasionally (But Still Important!):

• Roosts & nesting boxes – Clean and sanitize, especially after an egg break or when birds seem unwell.
• Your shoes – Keep a designated pair of boots or shoes for your coop area, and regularly clean and sanitize them. A sanitizing foot bath can help prevent tracking unwanted germs. 
• Tires on your vehicle – If you visit a feed store or another chicken keeper’s home, your tires can pick up and carry harmful bacteria. Consider spraying them with a sanitizer before and after trips.

Biosecurity Is More Than Just Avian Flu

While avian influenza (AI) is a major concern, good biosecurity isn’t just about preventing AI. Many common poultry illnesses, from bacterial infections to fungal toxins, can be avoided with proper cleaning and sanitization. Some of these, like botulism, aren’t caused by bacteria themselves but by the toxins they produce. A sanitized coop helps prevent these toxins from accumulating in the first place.

Strong biosecurity practices should always be in place. Cleaning and sanitizing are simple but powerful ways to protect your flock from disease and ensure they thrive.

So, grab your scrub brush, and your sanitizer of choice, and make a habit of keeping your flock’s environment as clean and safe as possible. Your chickens will thank you!