Make a DIY Foot Bath For Your Flock's Biosecurity

More people than ever are keeping backyard poultry, so it’s increasingly important to have a biosecurity plan in place to help minimize your flock’s exposure to potentially harmful diseases.

Keeping a dedicated pair of coop/run boots that you only wear while tending your flock, and keeping those boots clean and sanitized is a great first step in preventing outside pathogens from getting to your flock. Here’s a simple, inexpensive do-it-yourself foot bath you can make to help you keep your chicken boots clean and disinfected.

Materials:

• Plastic dish pan, cat litter pan, or boot tray
• Plastic grass mat or nesting box pad.
• Water
• Quatrocide or another agricultural disinfectant

Instructions:

1. Lay the nesting pad in the bottom of the plastic pan. 
2. Mix the disinfectant solution according to the instructions. 
3. Pour enough disinfectant solution into the bottom of the pan so that it is approximately ½ inch deep.
4. To use, step into the tray and wipe your feet, allowing the bristles of the nesting mat to scrub the treads of your boots clean.
5. Dispose of the old disinfecting solution and add a fresh solution every 24 hours or as the disinfecting product label indicates.

Watch our Youtube video for a visual how-to for making this foot bath.