Single hen

[jonathan H]

Well the summer is kinda here - I suppose. Well on the calander there is a picture of a sunny scene - just not outside my window...

 

The problem is I have a garden thats getting a bit whiffy...

 

The rain is not helping, as normal dryish poos are really easy to collect.. the rain just turns them in to mush!

 

Can anyone suggest a solution, I'm sure I have read somewhere on this forum something about lime powder?

 

Just to let you know that they free range a lot and I also have bark down in their run which gets replaced every couple of months..

Edited July 4, 2007 by Guest

[SarahJo]

Hi - just remember you are not alone - rain kinda does not mix with layers mash/pellets and chook poop. .

 

You can add garlic powder to help with smelly poo. The liming of soil depends on what the hens are on. If on bark and "mud" I would wait till dryer weather - then remove any remaining old bark, dig over the run, scatter lime (wear a mask tho' as it is not good to inhale, and is like talc), then top up with fresh bark.

 

I am lucky to have a supply of aggricultural lime - but no doubt others will post their thoughts and tips too. .

[Lesley]

We use Garden Lime in boxes from Wyevale garden centre when the grounf becomes a bit stale. The rain certainly isn't helping

 

As SarahJo says - wait for a bit of better weather and change the bark. using the lime first.

[Sheilaz]

Just to add, any spilt food will be far smellier than the poo. I didn't realise when I first had my hens, then the stench was awful & I worked out it was where food spills had built up. Yuk, I don't let that happen now and just the poop isn't too bad.

[Olly]

definitely adding garlic powder to the pellets helps. I was in a rush last week, filled the feeder up with pellets without mixing any in - boy can I tell the difference this week!

[Hen Watch]

Same here Johnathan. I think having clay soil and tons of rain doesn't help. My garden is getting whiffy too but only on these really rainy, warm days and I am moving the run around the garden every other day.

 

I use Garlic Powder in their water (from Eileen Douglas Tack Shop) but I don't think it is making any difference. I think we should just hope for some better weather.

[Egluntyne]

Lesley is right....garden lime works a treat.

[jonathan H]

I can't profess that I can even work out how it works! I eat load of garlic and it doesn't seem to make a difference to me...

 

But...but..if giving my ladies garlic powder changes my garden from the local sewage plant to kew gardens then I am willing to give it a go!!

[Olly]

i don't understand it either, I've wondered exactly the same thing as you, about why it works on chickens but not (apparently on humans) but it really does work!

How on earth did somebody discover this, that's what I wonder ?

 

The garlic powder stinks but the chooks don't seem to mind it.

[Egluntyne]

What brand of garlic powder do you use Olly and in what quantity.

 

I've always imagined that it would taint the eggs!

[jonathan H]

Well I think I will try the garlic powder first and wait until the earth dries out a bit before I purchase any Garden Lime.

 

Thanks HenWatch for the "Eileen Douglas Tack Shop" Tip - I'm off there this lunchtime to get the Garlic!

 

And... Egluntine I've decided to do a blind tasting session with my wife to determine whether Garlic Powder really does taint the taste of the egg!...

[Olly]

I bought it from Omlet, and I put about a teaspoonful in with every Grubful of pellets - it's a bit of a rough-and-ready measure. I'm getting to the end of the tub and it's all stuck together in lumps, and I've discovered that they quite like pecking the whole lumps out and gulping them down!

 

I have bought bokashi to try, because the garlic smells so horrible first thing in the morning when you're trying to fill the Grub but it's more expensive. Apparently bokashi will have the same effect though.

 

I believe the garlic is also good for their immune system. It doesn't seem to taint the eggs, I haven't noticed anything and "Ooops, word censored!"ody has complained, although I give mine away and don't sell them, so they might be too polite to say!

[jonathan H]

Thanks Olly for the tip..

 

The Bokashi stuff looks really good, although I've brought the garlic powder now, but I'm really interested to see how the ladies will take to it.

 

I'm going to go with your suggestion and add one teaspoon into their pellets in the morning...