Spring is the busiest season in the backyard. Animals are more active, pests are waking up, and everything you put away for winter needs a once-over before the warm months hit. Whether you keep chickens, rabbits, a dog, or all three, a little setup now saves you a lot of headaches later. Here's a simple checklist to get your whole backyard ready.
Start with the yard itself
Before you touch any enclosure, walk the property. Winter tends to leave damage you won't notice until it's a problem.
- Check fences and gates for loose posts, gaps, or rot
- Clear away fallen branches, leaves, and debris that hide pests
- Look for new burrows, holes, or dirt mounds along edges and foundations
- Make sure drainage is working so spring rain doesn't flood enclosures
Chicken coops
Your coop took a beating over winter, and warm weather brings new challenges like mites and mold.
- Do a deep clean: remove old bedding, scrub surfaces, and let it dry fully
- Inspect for damaged wire, loose latches, and predator entry points
- Swap heavy winter bedding for something lighter and more breathable
- Clean and refill feeders and waterers, and check for leaks
- Add ventilation if your coop ran closed-up all winter
Rabbit hutches
Rabbits are sensitive to both heat and damp, so spring is the time to reset their space.
- Deep clean the hutch and replace all bedding
- Check the roof and walls for leaks or weak spots after winter
- Move the hutch to a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade
- Confirm wire and latches are secure against more active spring predators
- Refresh water more often as temperatures climb
Dog kennels
If your dog's outdoor space sat unused over winter, give it a full check before they're back out in it.
- Clean and disinfect the kennel floor and walls
- Inspect for sharp edges, rust, or escape gaps that formed over winter
- Set up shade and fresh water for warmer days ahead
- Check that flooring drains well and stays dry after rain
Pest control: get ahead of it now
This is the step most people skip, and it's the one that pays off most. Spring is when chipmunks, squirrels, gophers, and other pests come out hungry and start nesting. Catching them early, before they breed and dig in, is far easier than fighting an established population later.
- Walk your yard and note fresh signs: droppings, chewed plants, dirt mounds, and worn trails
- Set humane live-catch traps along the paths where you see activity
- Match each trap and its bait to the specific pest you're dealing with
- Secure feed and pet food in sealed containers so you're not inviting them in
Getting traps out early in the season means you deal with a few stragglers now instead of a full invasion in summer.
A quick spring checklist
If you only have an afternoon, hit these essentials:
- Walk the yard for fences, drainage, and new pest activity
- Deep clean every enclosure and replace winter bedding
- Check all wire, latches, and walls for predator gaps
- Set up shade and fresh water ahead of the heat
- Put out humane traps before pests settle in
A single weekend of spring setup keeps your animals safe, comfortable, and pest-free through the busiest months of the year. Tackle it now, and you'll spend the rest of the season enjoying your backyard instead of repairing it.
Getting set up for spring? Browse our chicken coops, rabbit hutches, dog kennels, and humane traps to fill any gaps before the season ramps up.
