Part 0800.0005

[LolaLayla]

Just wondered if anyone has any thoughts on this. I have moved my eglu and run from an area where it has been sited for the past 8 months. The girls did not spend a lot of time in the run as I let them out each day to roam about in a fenced off area around the eglu. However I plan to move them back to the same place in the winter and wonder if I should treat the soil in some way to remove any nasty bugs that may be there. My other thought was just to put 2 small raised beds there for the summer and then remove them prior to putting the eglu back. To treat or not to treat that is the question

[chuckmum6]

I just use Stalosan F in my run which is permantly sited, like you my girls free range in a fenced off area and only use the run for shelter or chilling out on perches. I have wood chip on bare earth and I just sprinkle Stalosan on it and rake it in, the girls turn the wood chip over too. I has worked for me.

[Jools]

I might be tempted to use a little garden lime to lower the acidity, but other than that I wouldn't bother if it's going to be rested until winter. I love the temporary raised bed idea

[LolaLayla]

Do you think I could use the Stalosan F and the garden lime? Would it be ok to grow veg in the raised bed on the treated ground? I would fill the beds with compost but the products may seep into it and affect the veg. Any opinions?

[Jools]

I wouldn't use anything under raised beds, other than a little garden lime. While I doubt Stalosan in harmful for veg growing itself, it won't be kind to the micro-organisms in the soil. That's okay if you're cleaning an permanent run area, but not so good if you're wanting to grow things.

[The Dogmother]

I use either BioDri or the new Ground sanitising Powder, both work really well and keep the worm egg count down.

[Jools]

I use either BioDri or the new Ground sanitising Powder, both work really well and keep the worm egg count down.

 

Useful for permanently sited runs yes, but where ground is being rested (or in this case being used for raised vegetable beds), not necessary.

[The Dogmother]

Personally I'd still use it to clear the worm eggs from the soil - they can linger for ages otherwise, posing a threat to any hens or other wildlife using that area.

[Jools]

There is no one-size fits all, especially not with chickens. I'd prefer to save my money and stick with traditional, proven methods of ground management, but we're all different and there's room for us all.

[LolaLayla]

I had hoped that would be just one way to deal with this I suppose the main thing is that the 'girls' are in as clean as possible area when I move them back. Being a beginner at chicken keeping I am trying to learn as much about keeping them and their environment as healthy as possible (thanks to advice from the forum I have just wormed them and used that great feed with the medication in it ) All advice most welcome. Thanks for comments so far.