4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[tanyajb]

hi my chickens are going to be kept in a smaller fenced off section of our garden,they are usually let out into the rest of the garden but i have had problems with my puppy (she attacked one)and we have just had the lawn returfed too.so they will be confined to an area of about 30ftx12ft. what is the best way to keep the ground clean and parasite free. both my chicken books say that the ground must be kept "sweet", they shouldn't be kept on the same bit of ground as they can get sick from it but don't offer much advice as an alternative. do most people section off three areas and rotate the time on each!?! if i put down co"Ooops, word censored!" wood chip how often should it be changed and has anyone tried gravel? your thoughts and advice would be appreciated! thanks!

[cordelia]

i have bark, but it need to be raked out, as they pull out their pellets all over..

 

others put a few handfulls of garden lime down to treat the soil...I havent managed to find any yet...

[PurpleTree]

Don't know if you have a Countrywide near you, but according to their website they sell garden lime http://www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk/pws/ProductDetails.ice?ProductID=2198

Haven't looked in store yet though.

[cordelia]

thanks for that...I can mail order if I cant ever source any.. thanks

[beach chick]

I eventually found garden lime in my local Wyevale, cant now remember the department but it was not where I expected it to be!! (sorry, that's not really that much help).

 

I was also going to ask a question along these line, about 'ground rotation' - so would be interested to hear if anyone has the answer about how often they should be moved.

[The Dogmother]

I sprinkle the chicken run with garden lime and Stalosan when I renew the Aubiose; both seem to keep it clean and fresh.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I keep my girls on a fixed spot. Every six weeks I rake off the top few inches and sprinkle down garden lime and Stalosan F. The garden lime sorts out the pH of the soil (to counteract the acidity of the poop) and the Stalosan F helps to keep nasties and niffs at bay.

 

There have been threads about where to buy Stalosan F as the postage is expensive. It doesn't seem easy to get hold of other than online, but I have the £14 box and reckon it will last for years as I only use a few scoopfuls every 6 weeks.

[The Dogmother]

I have the big tub too Vicki and it's lasted me for ages. There's another, similar product called Bio Dri, but I've never used it

[debbie26pet]

hi im reading with interest, with all this rain i have bark in mine and ive noticed it smelling a bit in certain places. i use lime and stalasan as well any ideas how i can get rid of this smell,

thinking i might have to take some out and, if i can borrow a rotovator to do the ground and put new bark down?

[Egluntyne]

The garden centre I use has almost always has garden lime in stock.

[splodge88]

I'm curious now...what's this 'garden lime' thing? I'm quite new to chickens & I haven't come across it...should I have some?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

It's powdered limestone and helps to neutralise the soil (chicken poop is acidic). It's really cheap from garden centres!

[hillfamily]

Brilliant thread ........I was trying to remember the name of Stalosan F as I wanted to order some. I have just sectioned off part off the garden for the girls and couldn't remember the name of the stuff I knew I needed to keep the ground smelling nice :D

 

Just ordered some from Flytes so Fancy ........... along with one or two other essential bits

[Egluntyne]

Brilliant thread ........I was trying to remember the name of Stalosan F as I wanted to order some. I have just sectioned off part off the garden for the girls and couldn't remember the name of the stuff I knew I needed to keep the ground smelling nice :D

 

Just ordered some from Flytes so Fancy ........... along with one or two other essential bits

 

 

Funny how they just seem to fall into the "shopping basket" isn't it.

[hillfamily]

Brilliant thread ........I was trying to remember the name of Stalosan F as I wanted to order some. I have just sectioned off part off the garden for the girls and couldn't remember the name of the stuff I knew I needed to keep the ground smelling nice :D

 

Just ordered some from Flytes so Fancy ........... along with one or two other essential bits

 

 

Funny how they just seem to fall into the "shopping basket" isn't it.

 

Don't know how it happens but I can assure you they were very essential and on offer