Warm boot recommendations please

[seagullukuk]

Hi,

I am wondering if I will have germ problems if all I do is jet wash the eglu when i do the cleaning? I may be wrong but I do not wish to use any detergents or soaps any advise would be useful.

Thanks

[Helly Welly]

I make my own disinfectant using a spray bottle of water to which i add a few drops each of rosemary, lemon, tea tree and eucalyptus essential oils.

I know its safe as it is originally a recipe for using to clean your hands, like that alcohol hand gel stuff, but not thick and gloopy!

 

 

You could also use 10 drops each of grapefruit and lemon oils to a spray bottle of water.

[craftyhunnypie]

Hi - I just use teatree oil in water & it smells beautiful. Touch wood no lice or mites so far since I got them last year ~(June).

 

I also leave everything drying in the sun for ages when I strip the eglu down - to kill off any bacteria / germs. That's when we have sun of course!

 

I'm also obsessed with the red mite powder stuff as I love the smell - probably why they've never had lice or mites. The eglu regularly gets a good shake & vac!!!!!!

 

Emma.x

[Jules.]

I use Ecover washing up liquid to clean, rinse with plain water & then use a squirty bottle of water with a few drops of tea tree oil to finish off. I did this for the first couple of weeks, but the weather has been soooo bad that I have just about managed to empty the poo tray & put fresh shredded paper in the nesting box twice a week since then

Why does one of my girls sleep in the nesting box? I get poo all up on the grey plastic side near the eggport

[kannie]

If your chickens come into contact with wild birds (or if wild birds come in the run) I'd use something a little stronger, seagullukuk. They can bring in red mite and you need something that'll kill them quickly. This happened to us and now I use something more potent (can't remember what its called).

[Christian]

I have the same Jules! Shirley always sleeps in the nest box and poos up the side! I put a plant pot in the nest when they have all finished laying. Then sneak out after dark and remove it, so they can lay in the morning. I still hear Shirley sneaking back in though!

[Mel (& Paul)]

I use (& Paul) to clean our eglus - that way they are sparkling clean and I get to sit and watch

[Dogs Too]

I must stress that I am still very new to chicken keeping but.....

 

Every 4 or 5 days (depends on shift working) I clean and wash the poo tray and roosting bars, I have 2 sets, (the second home made as per the instructions on the forum!) so the now clean ones can dry out.

 

I also change the shavings in the nesting box and just wipe around with water. I also use a light covering of shavings in the poo tray to mop up any moisture, to stop any stubborn sticking and to keep the smell pleasant.

 

Once every 5 weeks (again due to shift work) the whole lot is taken apart and washed with Virkon S disinfectant, sachet bought from local farm supplier makes 5 ltrs more than enough, and an old washing up brush. It has to be an old one as "her indoors" says that we humans deserve the new one! ( we get a new one quite often!)

 

Thats my regime and the girls are happy healthy and laying so what else can I do ?

[Mrs Frugal]

That's fine ! You're cleaning it out more regularly than I am at the moment .