Disinfecting soil

[toffee]

My birds have their own run on some soil with some paving slabs down for their feeding area. There are two small apple trees and a rogue sycamore which are living in the run and provide interest and shade for the hens. It measures about 12' by 20'.

We have absolutely no option of ever moving their run due to the size and layout of the garden. I have been digging the soil over regularly and picking up piles of poop whenever I can, but obviously most of it gets washed into the soil.

I often sprinkle a good amount of Stalosan F onto the soil at the end of each day when the birds have gone to roost, say about twice a week. I wash their paved area down with water and Jeyes Fluid each evening then sprinkle with Stalosan.

I have read that you can buy lime to dig into the soil once a year which 'cleans' the soil and rids it of any bacteria/spores etc. that may be lurking.

I was wondering what type of lime to buy as it's not really clear on the websites that I've been reading and certain types of lime are caustic. My husband says I should get slaked lime, but I don't know where you get this from and in what quantities. How long do the birds need to be kept off the area once it's been limed as well?

Do any of you have any useful advice regarding the problem of keeping the soil fresh as I don't want any problems of disease if I can help it? I only have three hens who forage this area, so it's not overloaded. The Stalosan F is very good at keeping things fresh, but I don't know how well it is good at disinfecting soil. I am tempted to dig a layer of soil out and discard it then replace with some compost, but I don't know if that would be any good or worth doing.

Please, any tips on keeping clean would be appreciated as I live in a residential area.

[Gamefowlman]

I use garden lime. You could put woodchips in the run and give it a rake over once a week and keep using stalosan as its very good.

[Ducklady]

Using Jayes that regular could cause contamination of the soil, sub soil and and watercourses so take care. Lime is always caustic, it always has a high pH and will burn skin. The ground needs to be left for a while if you are going to add lime to it.

Why don't you add a layer of rubber chippings, gravel or wood chippings and either wash them or dig them out and replace at certain intervals?

[dorinda]

I've always heard that Jeyes was bad for poultry

[Gamefowlman]

Rubber chippings are not very eco friendly IMO . When i ever i use lime i leave that pen empty for a month.

[Layla]

I've always heard that Jeyes was bad for poultry

Yes me too didnt someone use it to clean or spray a henhouse out and the hens drunk out of the puddles and died

[Fast Farmer]

If you're going to keep this part of the run as it is then agricultural/garden lime is the stuff to use, if like me you have no chance of resting the run then do what nature will do sooner or later anyway and lightly water the lime once you've applied it in the evening when chooks are housed........not the ideal scenario, but I do my main run every year with no ill effects yet.
Graham.

[toffee]

Oh, I always make sure the Jeyes isn't left around in puddles. I'll get some garden lime and apply it when they've gone to roost then wash it into the soil.

Thanks for all the info. everyone. I appreciate hearing what people do and what products work.

[millipup]

I use garden lime,too ,after forking the run over to loosen the soil ,I wait untill the chooks have finished rummaging about and gone to bed,then just sprinkle it around -preferably a night when its about to bucket down..............done this twice a year for four years ,no problems with chooks at all. I buy the pelleted stuff from my garden centre and use it at the reccomended rate for a flower-bed ! Does seem to help keep the pen from smelling ,too.

[feathoboy]

Hi toffee. well i would have thought you were doing a very good job of it allready,Digging the soil over adding stalosanf as well,and not having a lot of birds in there i dont think you would have a problem myself.i use jeyes fluid spray to freshen up the hutches and coops,it is designed for it and leaves a nice clean smell.i used to keep pekins free range ,i now have serama free range and i dig the garden over as well and have not encountered any problems yet.(touch wood)

steve.

sorry just edited this as i have got mixed up with another thread,and i thought you said you only had a few birds in there,But you have NOT stated how many you keep,i still think you are doing a good job though.

[toffee]

Hi, I only have three birds. Still a ton of poop though!

[smileysal]

I have also used a Jeyes fluid dilute mixture for my coops with no ill effect to the birds, spray in the morning and leave all day to dry, good to go back in the evening!!!