Brooding hen has chicks in nesting box

[alligg]

Hiya

We have recently moved the girls to the other end of the garden where they now have a permenent run/coop.

The girls love it as there is a huge mound with trees and plants and lots of things to scratch around in,there is an area of grass in front of it and then the fence,we put some bark chippings on and around the mound to give them something else to do and they love scratching around in it,most of it is now on the grass and even when I rake it back they spend ages pulling it back down.sorry i'm going off on one a bit.

My question is what can I put on the chippings to keep it smelling nice,get rid of any bugs that maybe in it and to generally disinfect it,wasnt sure if there is anything I can spray/sprinkle on when I rake it.

I poo pick everyday but there is always some bits that will get missed when birds are scratting,ive read about other peoples problems with smell and I want to avoid it before it becomes a problem,especially as next door is gettting some chooks and so is next door but one,dont want people complaining its ours when I can avoid it to begin with.

sorry i'm ranting again

I would really appreciate any advice

I would also like to say a big thank you to everyone on this forum for answering my many questions,ive never been on such a friendly site and I always get replies even if its a repeated question,its nice to know there is somewhere I can go for advice,this was the first place I told my neighbour to go when he showed an interest in getting some chooks.

Thanks again everyone

Alli

i've added some new pics with their new run on

[legend21]

Hi Alligg, I put citronella or sometimes peppermint essential oil in my run every so often, I poo pick from the run every day and when I feel it is a bit grubby I take out the top layer of bedding and replace it with clean bedding, but use the essential oils in the interim, the run does not smell

 

Jackie

[C&T]

Stalosan F is a great disenfectant. Sprinkle every couple of weeks, and kills all the nasty bugs and removes any smell!

 

A little goes a long way as well, so a big tub will last for ages.

[legend21]

C&T forgot about Stalosan F and I only put it down yesterday??? I agree it is fab

 

Jackie

[sjp]

i use Stalosan F, bio dry diatom louse powder and poultry shield not all at the same time seem to work for me

[Lesley]

When you rake out the bark, before you replace it you can sprinkle the ground with garden lime and fork it in - it will keep any soil sweet.