- One 50g sachet makes 5–10 litres of disinfectant, depending on the job
- Broad spectrum — the maker’s testing covers over 500 strains of viruses, bacteria, fungi, yeasts and mycoplasma, most in as little as 5 minutes
- Used worldwide in emergency disease responses, including avian influenza, Newcastle disease and foot-and-mouth
- Coop surfaces, feeders and drinkers, water lines, equipment and foot dips
- Mixes into a pink solution — 10g per litre for surfaces and gear
- Degrades naturally in the environment after use
- 50g sachet makes 5–10L of disinfectant
- Coop surfaces, gear, drinkers and water lines
- Used worldwide in emergency disease responses
The disinfectant for the proper clean-out
A clean coop comes down to two habits. A regular rinse and scrub of the feeders and drinkers. And every so often, a proper clean-out — bedding out, surfaces scrubbed, then a disinfectant through the coop, the gear and the drinker lines before everything goes back in.
Virkon S is the disinfectant for that second job, and it’s the one we stock. One 50g sachet mixes into 5–10 litres of working solution — enough to do the whole coop, the gear and the water lines in one go.
Step by step, both jobs: cleaning the coop and disinfecting it once it’s clean.
Why Virkon S
It’s broad spectrum. On the maker’s own testing it works on over 500 strains of viruses, bacteria, fungi, yeasts and mycoplasma — Salmonella among them — most in as little as 5 minutes.
And it’s trusted where the stakes are highest: Virkon S is used around the world in emergency animal-disease responses, including avian influenza, Newcastle disease and foot-and-mouth. The official advice to backyard keepers is to keep the coop, the yard and the equipment clean — this is the disinfectant made for exactly that job.
Once the job is done, it degrades naturally in the environment.
How to mix it
Mix the powder into water and you get a pink solution. Mix it fresh each time, and use a spray bottle for surfaces and gear.
| Job | Mix |
|---|---|
| Coop surfaces — earth, wood, walls, ceilings, concrete | 10g per 1 litre of water |
| Feeders, drinkers and equipment | 10g per 1 litre |
| Drinker lines and header tanks | 10g per 2 litres |
| Foot dip at the coop or shed door | 10g per 1 litre — replace every 4–5 days |
Doing the drinker lines
Clean out the header tank first, then fill it with the solution and let it sit for 10 minutes. Flush through to the drinking terminals and leave it for 50 minutes. Drain, and rinse everything thoroughly before refilling with drinking water.
The foot dip trick
Commercial farms put a dip at the shed door so whatever is on a visitor’s boots stays out of the shed. A tub of solution at the coop or run entrance does the same job in a backyard — worth doing whenever disease is about.
Using it around the birds
Virkon S is made for animal housing. It can be misted around animals, and it works as an aerial disinfectant through the shed.
The care to take is for yourself, when you’re mixing: gloves are sensible, don’t breathe in the powder or the mist, rinse any splashes off your skin, and store the sachet out of reach of kids.
Specifications
| Size | 50g sachet |
| Makes | 5–10 litres of solution, depending on the job |
| Surfaces and equipment | 10g per 1 litre |
| Water systems | 10g per 2 litres |
| Foot dips | 10g per 1 litre, replaced every 4–5 days |
| Works on | Viruses, bacteria, fungi, yeasts and mycoplasma — over 500 strains on the maker’s testing |
| Environment | Degrades naturally after use |
Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If a bird is unwell, speak to a vet. For more on keeping a flock healthy, visit our Chook School.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mixing, drinker lines and the questions we get asked about disinfecting a coop.
How much does one 50g sachet make?
Between 5 and 10 litres, depending on the job. At the surface-and-equipment rate of 10g per litre it makes 5 litres; at the water-system rate of 10g per 2 litres it makes 10. For most backyard coops one sachet covers a full clean-out with some left over.
Do I clean first, or just disinfect?
Clean first, always. Get the bedding out, scrape and scrub the muck off, and then disinfect — a disinfectant can’t do its work through a layer of dirt. Our guides cover both halves step by step: cleaning the coop, then disinfecting it once it’s clean.
Can I use it on feeders and drinkers?
Yes — that’s one of its main jobs here. Wash them, spray or wipe them down with the solution at 10g per litre, and rinse before they go back into service. For drinker lines and header tanks, use the 10g-per-2-litres mix: let it sit in the tank for 10 minutes, flush through to the drinking terminals, leave for 50 minutes, then drain and rinse thoroughly before refilling.
Is it OK to use around my chooks?
It’s made for animal housing — it can even be misted around animals. The precautions are for you, not the birds: wear gloves, avoid breathing in the powder or the mist, rinse splashes off your skin, and store the sachet out of reach of kids. Always read the label and follow the directions for use.
Does it kill Salmonella?
Yes. On the maker’s testing Virkon S is effective against Salmonella in as little as 5 minutes — along with over 500 other strains of viruses, bacteria, fungi and yeasts.
Will it protect my flock from bird flu?
No single product can promise that, and we won’t pretend otherwise. What Virkon S gives you is the “keep it clean” half of the official advice, done properly — it is the same disinfectant used in official avian influenza and Newcastle disease responses around the world. The other half of the advice is keeping wild birds away from your flock’s feed and water.
How long does the mixed solution last?
Mix what you need for the clean-out and use it fresh. The exception is a foot dip, which works for 4–5 days before the solution needs replacing.
Not sure where to start with a coop clean-out? Get in touch — walking customers through it is half of what we do on the phone.