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

[moomin]

I've bought a couple of sachets of Virkon S as Skye has been ill and I want to give the Eglu a really good clean and disinfect

 

Does anyone use this on a regular basis? (think Helenmb said she did so hoping you're reading this morning! ).

 

On the packet it said to make up the solution and apply with a pressure washer or other spraying equipment. But I don't have either, can you just apply it with a cloth, do you need to let it dry naturally - no chance in this weather - or can you wipe it over with a cloth to help it dry?

 

Thanks for any advice

[moomin]

Ah well I used it anyway to clean the inside of the Eglu, you just add the powder to 5 ltrs of hot water, turns it a pretty pink colour and the smell is lovely!!

 

Didn't rinse, dried it off with an old clean cloth, sorted. Think the chooks liked it 'cos when I checked on them last night they were snuggled up side by side instead of 'top and tailing'! And they're both still alive this morning so bonus!!

 

The sachet is £2.49 but worth it I think to have a clean sweet-smelling Eglu safe from bacteria and other nasties. Perhaps I'm getting obsessed? Can chickens be too clean?

[The Dogmother]

I sometimes use Virkon - I make it up in a watering can and use it to rinse the cube/eglu after I've cleaned it. Mostly though, I use Barrier V1 in the spray form - much easier to use and to direct into all the nooks and crannies. If you want to be really thorough, then use Barrier's Poultry Shield (I don't work for them, honest!) as it's a disinfectant and anti-mite. I never dry it off, just try to let it dry naturally - not easy in this weather.

[moomin]

Brilliant, thanks Claret, will look out for the Barrier's stuff as the Virkon does work out expensive if you use it for every clean. They were selling big tubs as well but they were £80

[Redwing]

Poulty Sheild is ace, I have had my 1l bottle three months and there still some left

[The Dogmother]

I tend to use V1 to disinfect the drinkers and feeders (when I remember ) and Poultry Shield to spray the housing... belt and braces girl!

 

When you buy the Poultry Shield, make usre that you get the one with the spray that is already diluted - there is a very similar bottle of concentrate that is used for larger areas in a backpack sprayer..

[moomin]

Will do, thanks

[helenmb]

Does anyone use this on a regular basis? (think Helenmb said she did so hoping you're reading this morning! ).

Sorry, Moomin, I must have missed this one as I have looked at the forum most days! Yes, I do use it and Poultry Shield too (but not both together and tend to use Poultry Shield in the warmer months for the Red Mite). I usually make up a batch in a large tub trug keeping a bit of it in a small watering can aside. I then wash down the cube/eglu with hot water first and then with a big thick cloth use the Virkon. I then rinse with clean hot water and then give the cube a final sprinkle with the reserved Vircon and leave it to dry.

 

I found a slightly bigger tub of Virkon which may prove to be more economical than the sachets or the really big tubs that cost lots from here with free postage. Or I bought some recently from eBay 500g for £11.49 but if you run a search there are lots of other sellers too.

 

I then sprinkle the inside of the cube and the poop decks with Stalosan and add in a bit of bedding to the trays too for easy poo removal.

[moomin]

Lovely job, thanks Helen that sounds like a good plan. Before I was only using ecover washing up liquid to clean the Eglu, I used to sprinkle a bit of Stalosan round but I had run out of it And then poor old Skye got ill. I felt a bit responsible tbh, although of course it may have had nothing to do with my dodgy 'chicken husbandry'

 

Like quite a few others you've been a member on this forum since 2006 (with some lovely chooks ), so you must be doing something right!

[helenmb]

Moomin, I forgot to mention that I load up an old flour shaker with my Stalosan as it makes it easier to sprinkle around, you could use any old shaker type container eg Shake-n-vac bottle, old Red Mite container etc.

 

I still have to remind myself that its nearly 3 years since I got my first girls, both sadly I lost both last year to peritonitis. I'm looking forward to getting some eggs from my younger pure breeds (only my 3 older ones are), they certainly look like they should be laying (comb and wattle wise) and often go into the nest to check out how its done . No doubt as soon as it warms up and the days start to lengthen then it will be egg city. Not sure what I'm going to do with 7 a day as there is only me and my DH. I think our neighbours will be glad of some and my lovely postman Martin is angling to buy some too.

 

I hope Skye perks up very soon, its a worry when things are right isn't it. I am sure that it will have nothing to do with your housekeeping, as imagine how some girls are kept that aren't lucky enough to have an eglu or cube to live in and still are healthy. These things just happen sometimes. Keeping my fingers crossed.

[moomin]

I managed to get 2 cheap flour shakers at the weekend, I'm using one for the Stalosan and one for the Diatom

 

Can't wait for the Spring, will be so happy when Skye starts laying again then I will know she is definitely on the mend. My other little girl Bobbie is laying 5 a week at the moment, not bad for a purebreed

 

I feel so pleased that Skye's getting better as there have been a lot of posts on here with poor Omleteers who haven't been so lucky They can go downhill so bloomin' quickly, it pays to watch them all the time for funny behaviour tho' not easy when you work and the days are so short.

 

Thanks for all your advice Helenmb, enjoy those lovely eggs from your beautiful chookies

[The Dogmother]

I put my Diatom in one of those squeezy ketchup bottles that has a valve on it - then it's easy to 'poot' it into all the nooks and crannies.

[helenmb]

I put my Diatom in one of those squeezy ketchup bottles that has a valve on it - then it's easy to 'poot' it into all the nooks and crannies.

Ooh nice one Claret, I just about to throw one out so will rescue it from the recycling and give it a go.

 

Glad Skye is slowly improving Ros, hopefully if we get some better weather that will help her along too. It must be pretty miserable at the moment for any animal stuck outside all day in the cold .

[Ygerna]

I was going to make a temporary dust bath for my girls and put some diatom in there. Would this work please?

[The Dogmother]

I was going to make a temporary dust bath for my girls and put some diatom in there. Would this work please?

 

It certainly does; my girls have a permanent dust bath in their run - an old vintage enamelled bowl full of ash from the log burner - I always put some Diatom in it too. Be careful not to breathe the dust though.