I add zeolite to my shavings after I have mixed them up. This serves to help dry out the litter and absorbs the ammonia which virtually eliminates the smell. It is a great admendment to the compost pile when I finally do add the litter to it.
Courtney,
I too free range my flock. I don't think having my chickens eat the grass/weeds that have been sprayed with the harsh chemical spray is good for them, most labels state it is posionous to "humans and domestic animals" and to not contaminate water sources. I use organic fertilizer...
I moved my chicks into the coop after two weeks. I had partitioned the back portion off. as they grew I gave them free use of the whole coop while I built a temp outside run. At about two months I just opened the coop door and let them decide. in the evening I would make sure they all went...
I have 22 hens about 22 weeks old, and 5 nest boxes in my coop. After reading several areas in this forum I have added a base (about 2") of shavings and put about 4" of hay over that and placed a golf ball or two in each nest box. Most of my eggs (I am getting about 9 a day) are in the nest...
I have 4 EE, 4 Ancona, 5 red star, 5 Single Comb Brown Leghorns and 4 buff orpingtons. about 5 days ago, found our first brown egg in one of the nest boxes(I belive it is from one of the red stars) that afternoon found another egg (soft shell) in the same box. next day no eggs, next day one...
if you add Zeolite (can be found as "Sweet PDZ" at most feed stores) . Zeolites have special properties, namely, they absorb moisture (soak up like a sponge) and they adsorb gases (attract and keep gas molecules stuck to them). This means that ammonia, as well as other bad smelling gases, are...
I am not sure the copper sulfate is a good idea, though not "highly" toxic to birds, it is toxic and does not break-down so it will remain in soil or water if contaminated. I would suggest the DE (food grade) as a better alternative.
http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/coppersu.htm
see MSDS...
I have been very lucky, i purchased 25 pullets from McMurry and they arrived 2 Nov 08, All 25 are healthy, 1 turned out to be a rooster, and one I am still not sure of. Guess I need to take a picture and ask you smarter folks. I did have a scare one evening. I went into the coop I built, and...
Peacocks will make noise at night. Any noise will get them going. I have been in my barn and dropped a bucket on the concrete and was rewarded with a few loud screams from the neighbor's peacocks. They are well over 500 feet from my barn. I like the noise but, you need to be mindful of how...
I agree with Pat.
A different "set" of microbes decomposes woody materials (cellulose/lignin) than decompose leafy materials, but IF you regularly have green material (such as freshly-aged grass clippings or fresh cow manure) on hand that can be added to the 'sawdust mix' as it is unloaded...
I added a 2 bar roost at about a week old. I just used scrap 2x4s as stands and attached a 1x2 between (as roost) I had one level at 4" and the second at 8".
Adding Zeolite is a great way to help control the ammonia. you can get it under the name of Sweet PDZ, used for horse stalls. It absorbs ammonia, and is great in the compost pile/garden when you change the bedding.
http://www.mall-net.com/mcs/zeolite.html
www.sweetpdz.com/
Good luck
As an alternative you could use Zeolite in your bedding.
http://www.bza.org/zeolites.html
I use a product called Sweet PDZ (initially recommended by Jarhead)
http://www.sweetpdz.com/
It will help control moisture and smell problems. It is a natural alternative I now use in my coop and...
Quote:
Have you tried (if around your area) any of the organic nurserys or try:
Blue Seal Feeds
876 Stillwater Avenue
Bangor, ME
[email protected]
or
http://www.internet-grocer.net/diatome.htm
wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/diatomaceous_earth.html...