Mercedes55 Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 I just wondered how everyone else handles keeping their garden nice and poo free I am doing my best to pick up any poo as and when I see it in the garden, but 1 or 2 of my hens are doing what I would call slightly runny poos so they are too loose to pick up but not runny enough to just pour water over. I've just spent ages in the garden following the flies around to find the poo from yesterday and picked up as much as I can but I don't know if there is anything I should be putting on the runny bits to make it less yucky and to get rid of the flies. I tried sprinkling a bit of Stalosan F on some bits yesterday but that didn't seem to do anything. I've also been making up some live yoghurt mixed with oats to feed the hens so that their poo will firm up, but not sure how long I should do that for. I know that every now and then they do those yellow poos but I'm sure at least 1 of my hens is consistently doing runny ones, but apart from that she is fine and eating well and laying eggs. Having only had them for just over 4wks I'm still very new to this and not sure what to do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 try adding Garlic powder to their feed it might help educe the smell and the flies, a to keeping the garden clean - a poo pick is really all that you can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Bokashi bran can also help with the poos and also the smell. What I can't scoop I s"Ooops, word censored!"e up and then wash with a watering can. You can give some probiotic powder such as Avipro or Protexin Pro Soluble which can help firm up the poos. I know lots of omleteers give probiotic yoghurt but I don't give any dairy to my chickens as they are not really programmed to digest it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 bokashi bran worked wonders for my lot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 where can you get bokashi bran from??? Im in maidstone in kent. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janeears Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Same question regarding the bokashi bran! I'm in the New Forest. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 mostly it's an internet thing. I get mine from wiggly wigglers http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/shop/product.html?product_id=444&-session=shopper:C2B0692913952199DAQTYwFAF071 about a handfull in with the food should do the trick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 wiggly wigglers, i think some of the omlet feed may have it added - not sure need to check Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 2, 2010 Author Share Posted August 2, 2010 Thanks I will try some of that. Would you say it's normal for them to have poos that aren't firm I have just let them all out into the garden and 1 of them did a really yucky one which I had to use the watering can on as it was so runny ewwwww I tried to give them the live yoghurt and oats but my dog barged in and ate it all before them and then started to eat up some of their poos too, disgusting creature Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 every now n then they do runny ones. yukk!! to the dog lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 2, 2010 Author Share Posted August 2, 2010 every now n then they do runny ones. yukk!! to the dog lol Thanks for that, I really wasn't sure what was normal and what wasn't to be honest My dog is awful like that, she is a labrador and will eat pretty much anything that looks remotely edible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcatz Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 I throw a bucket of water over any runny poos on the patio and it just rinses away. Sometimes i chuck a handful of compost on top first as that soaks the poo up so no flies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 I think they say every 1 in 10 poo's are like curry sauce!!!!! The bran will definately help......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 2, 2010 Author Share Posted August 2, 2010 Well I have ordered some of the bokashi bran from WigglyWigglers and I was going to stock up on some dried mealworms too as I am getting low on them and it's the only treat that will get my hens back into their run, but they're soooo expensive on their site Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Wilkinsons are brill for those usually.... There is a place online, but can't remember where, do a search and see what you find! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marky D Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Omlet sell the Bokashi Active in there shop which seems reasonably priced, it's in the "Food and Food Scoop" section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bexibex Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Hi. I am having the same problem with my girls now they are roaming free. will try the Bokashi - I have garlic powder - is it ok to use both at the same time? I was worried about the runny poos too - they seem to do a mixture - sometimes they are nice and firm, others a watery mess! Same problem with my dog - another labrador! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabel Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 How much of the Bokashi Bran should they get? Will a 1kg bag go far? Am struggling with poos and flies too .. not too bad as the hens are well away from the house, but nonetheless, if something might help a bit I'll try it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Yup. Use both together, should work a treat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frizz Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 I use a dustpan and an old wall paper s"Ooops, word censored!"er to collect the poos, this allows me to gather the worst of the runny ones, then just pour water over the rest, it either washes into the grass or off the patio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 The problem with my girls is that, as soon as I let them out of the run, they come dashing up to the patio in search of treats and, in all the excitement, curry poo for England! I would concur with a lot of the advice that has gone before - I just wanted you to know (again) that you are not alone!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 2, 2010 Author Share Posted August 2, 2010 There was me thinking it was just my hens who had taken a liking to pooing all over the patio with their delightful curry poos They are so smelly too ewwwwwww Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Mine do their runniest poos on my lovely garden bench I tend to put a bit of soil on the runny poos on the pathways, and wash the bench when they poo on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 4, 2010 Author Share Posted August 4, 2010 Hi. I am having the same problem with my girls now they are roaming free. will try the Bokashi - I have garlic powder - is it ok to use both at the same time? I was worried about the runny poos too - they seem to do a mixture - sometimes they are nice and firm, others a watery mess! Same problem with my dog - another labrador! Glad it isn't just me with a greedy labrador. I got my bokashi bran this morning and the bag itself does whiff a bit. My labrador has already started sniffing the bag with a lot of interest. I already put poultry spice in my hen's food so I will put some bokashi bran in too, haven't a clue how much to put in as I never know what I am doing food wise. At the moment I bring their food grub in at night and remove the crumbs and pellets that are left, put some fresh in with some poultry spice, then put the old food back on top of the new food so that hopefully they eat that up first. The trouble with the grubs is that you have to put quite a lot in them for the hens to be able to reach it and my old dog bowl feeding routine went out the window when they started pooing in the food I also get quite a mixture of solid and runny poos and I have definitely found the culprit for 1 of them and so far haven't seen her do any normal poos. Last night someone, and it wasn't me, managed to get chicken poo on their feet and walked it right through the conservatory and into the living room too, I wasn't very pleased Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 Bokashi bran is produced by wiggly wigglers, but cheaper to buy off the omlet site than the WW one. But am confused by its application. The Omlet site says use it as a feed supplement, but neither the instructions on the packaging or the WW site itself make any reference to feeding it to the chooks. They just recommend using it as a composting accelarator. Does anyone use it with food? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
