Chicken bald back

[Doody]

Hi,

 

Tommorow i have lots to do in the garden, while im out getting all dirty etc, i want to clean the chicken pen. Ive noticed a few blue bottles (Flies) today and was wondering apart from fly traps what kind of cleaning materials i can use to try and keep bacteria, flies, maggots at bay.

 

Could you wash the wire/pen with a mild mix of washing up liquid and water, or is that not a good idea? Should i use the same set of rules as cleaning out rabbits, guinea pigs etc? Also i plan on cleaning them out every 3 days, does that sound ok also?

 

Sorry if this is a stupid question. Just dont want to upset the 3 new ladies in my life lol....

 

Regards

 

Mark

[Mercedes55]

Hi Mark, I don't think any question is stupid as a lot of us are new to this. I've only had my hens since Saturday and I have to say I've been totally surprised by the amount of flies around too. I have bought one of those fly trap things but I am waiting for my other half to put it up as I can't work out where it goes We've been raking the wood chips at night as it's so hard to reach in through the door of the run to pick them up, but still getting flies. I got some of that Stalosan F which is supposed to be good for cleaning out the runs, but it isn't cheap and as it's a heavy container the postage was quite high for it, but I guess it should last a long time.

 

As for the Eglu itself I know a lot of people use a jet washer for them and they remove the perches and scrub them clean too. I am going to try steam cleaning mine so that it kills any germs and parasites in it and then spray some Poultry Shield around, followed by a dusting of Diatom

[Doody]

Hi Mark, I don't think any question is stupid as a lot of us are new to this. I've only had my hens since Saturday and I have to say I've been totally surprised by the amount of flies around too. I have bought one of those fly trap things but I am waiting for my other half to put it up as I can't work out where it goes We've been raking the wood chips at night as it's so hard to reach in through the door of the run to pick them up, but still getting flies. I got some of that Stalosan F which is supposed to be good for cleaning out the runs, but it isn't cheap and as it's a heavy container the postage was quite high for it, but I guess it should last a long time.

 

As for the Eglu itself I know a lot of people use a jet washer for them and they remove the perches and scrub them clean too. I am going to try steam cleaning mine so that it kills any germs and parasites in it and then spray some Poultry Shield around, followed by a dusting of Diatom

 

I think maybe this mild/hot weather we are having isnt helping with the flies. I cant say i was worried about the flies, but they certainly was there and annoying me lol. I have a pressure hose, so ill probably give it a good clean inside/outside and hose it down also. Better make sure the chooks are inside before i put the hose on em lol.

 

I wonder if you can still get those sticky pieces of paper, i remember my mom and dad had them, the flies would stick to em, i might look into that. I love bee's, but my oh my i hate flies and wasps.

[Olly]

Definitely no such thing as a stupid question!

 

Flies are worse this year due to the weather, I think - I have certainly got more than I'm used to.

I wouldn't bother about cleaning the run wire itself, to be honest - focus on the Eglu or Cube. Jet-washing is good, or a hosepipe, but the main thing is just to empty the droppings tray, clean it thoroughly and scrub any poo off the roosting bars. I don't always clean the rest of the Eglu, it depends on how much time I have. It's worth getting a brush - a scrubbing brush, or one intended for flower pots or car wheels is also good - for this purpose, and then you can use a bucket or a hose depending what suits you.

 

The other thing to do is rake out poo if you can from the run. If you use aubiose or Hemcore or similar, you will find the poo magically soaks up and disappears into it. We are probably far more fussy than the hens about cleanliness, but it's good to remove as much poo as possible because that's where the flies will be settling.

[C&T]

We empty the poo tray weekly - we line it with newspaper, which makes the whole process much easier, and the whole lot goes in the compost bin. The Eglu gets a clean with the hosepipe most weekends, but once a month or so, it gets a full on scrub with soapy water (washing up liquid), and rinsed thoroughly before being put back together again. It is also sprayed with a bug killer designed for chook housing (can't remember the name - Mite Kill or something??) which lasts months apparently. Then every few months or so, it is attacked with the pressure washer!

 

So far, that has worked for us!

 

Re the run. We use Hemcore which is fantastic, and contains citronella so helps with flies. This gets a full clean out and new stuff put in about once every 6 weeks, and the old stuff goes on the compost heap. Wet weather may bring that forward. When it is cleaned out, we sprinkle Stalosan F and Garden Lime to help with smells/nasties. Sometimes we will sprinkle Stalosan over the Hemcore half way through the 6 week period, if needed. Other than that, the run is pretty much ignored, and we rarely poo pick - the Hemcore just absorbs it all!

 

And I should add, we have 2 chooks, and they are in their run most of the day as we are at work.

 

And ditto others - no such thing as a stupid question!

[Mercedes55]

I've been emptying the poo tray on a daily basis as it seems to get quite wet and horrible looking, although I only have newspaper in it. I put a Tesco shopping bag in a small bucket and put the whole lot in that, then I go and do a poop scoop for my dog and put all that in the same bag and tie it up and bin it.

[Doody]

We empty the poo tray weekly - we line it with newspaper, which makes the whole process much easier, and the whole lot goes in the compost bin. The Eglu gets a clean with the hosepipe most weekends, but once a month or so, it gets a full on scrub with soapy water (washing up liquid), and rinsed thoroughly before being put back together again. It is also sprayed with a bug killer designed for chook housing (can't remember the name - Mite Kill or something??) which lasts months apparently. Then every few months or so, it is attacked with the pressure washer!

 

So far, that has worked for us!

 

Re the run. We use Hemcore which is fantastic, and contains citronella so helps with flies. This gets a full clean out and new stuff put in about once every 6 weeks, and the old stuff goes on the compost heap. Wet weather may bring that forward. When it is cleaned out, we sprinkle Stalosan F and Garden Lime to help with smells/nasties. Sometimes we will sprinkle Stalosan over the Hemcore half way through the 6 week period, if needed. Other than that, the run is pretty much ignored, and we rarely poo pick - the Hemcore just absorbs it all!

 

And I should add, we have 2 chooks, and they are in their run most of the day as we are at work.

 

And ditto others - no such thing as a stupid question!

 

Hemcore? Right ill look into that, isnt that something they use in horse stables. If so we have a horse shop down the road lol lol, ill pop in and ask. Ill also look into garden lime too, so much to do lol lol...

[Mercedes55]

Yes it is used for horses too

[C&T]

If you choose Hemcore or any other horse bedding you do need to keep the run covered. Corrugated sheests from Wickes are cheap and great for this, held on with some bungees.

 

You horse place may not do Hemcore, but other horse beddings instead, like Auboise. They are all fantastic judging by reports on here. Not all have the citronella in - but flies really are only a "problem" for a few weeks of the year - you are just unlucky to be starting out at that time of year!!

 

You buy the bedding in bales, and for a standard run, I use just over 1/2 of a bale? I also use the same stuff in the nest box which the chooks seem to be fine with.

 

Good luck!

[debsygooch]

Hello everyone!! I love reading these posts, always lots of great tips to pick up regardless of how much you think you know already!! I am with the Hemcore groupies on this subject - it is excellent stuff. As a rider (of horses) and also a newbie Mum to my girls I cannot recommend the stuff enough, I use it (alone) in the Eglu tray and have to say, no niffs and no flies and it composts brilliantly. With the increase in flies I think I may try it in the run now too. A huge bag of Hemcore cost me just over £8 (OH collected it) had since end of April and I haven't even made a dent in it so it will last you ages.

Good luck speak to you all soon

Debbie