- Jul 25, 2011
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We have a little coop and run that we clean, rake, spread DE, etc. EVERY WEEK and it still stinks. And we have flies like crazy. We really want to spend time watching chicken TV, but it was pretty unappealing due to that.
My hubby was talking to one of his friends who has chickens and they don't have such a problem. Their secret?
Leaves.
That's it. They put leaves in the bottom of their run, over the gravel. That gives the poop something to land on and not be stepped in right away, time to dry out, and the chickens will eventually scratch it into crumbles.
D'oh!
We have a wire tower we use for yard leaves right beside our coop. You can see the corner of it here:
We have a composter we add poop and pine shavings to, mix with those leaves, add food scraps and turn every day hoping for good soil to use in the garden come spring. Why wait to add the leaves to the compost when we can add it to the run now, save a step, and cut down on the smell.
Plus, hubby said when he threw leaves down in the run, the girls were out scratching in the garden dirt and came RUNNING back to get inside the run and scratch around. They love it.
I feel a little bit stoopid.
My hubby was talking to one of his friends who has chickens and they don't have such a problem. Their secret?
Leaves.
That's it. They put leaves in the bottom of their run, over the gravel. That gives the poop something to land on and not be stepped in right away, time to dry out, and the chickens will eventually scratch it into crumbles.
D'oh!
We have a wire tower we use for yard leaves right beside our coop. You can see the corner of it here:
We have a composter we add poop and pine shavings to, mix with those leaves, add food scraps and turn every day hoping for good soil to use in the garden come spring. Why wait to add the leaves to the compost when we can add it to the run now, save a step, and cut down on the smell.
Plus, hubby said when he threw leaves down in the run, the girls were out scratching in the garden dirt and came RUNNING back to get inside the run and scratch around. They love it.
I feel a little bit stoopid.
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