Best sifting rake for sand bottomed run

[EggSighted4Life]

I've love to know your advice for flies in the coop. Thanks!!!!

If I leave my droppings boards piling high, then I get flies.

They aren't an issue with the DL anymore than grass.

I use PDZ on my boards during winter. And I used it in my goat barn. That stuff is quite amazing... but I don't like it in my run.

Careful about the chips you add... one guy lost most if not all of his hens to aspergillus in there lungs caused by a wood chip pile he was using in their run. It may have been a specific type of chips or weather pattern that made the perfect storm... but I can't help mentioning it.

I have mint growing also... the flies and mosquitoes land right on it and stick their tongues out at me!

Fun to see the different locations and challenges.

 

[aart]

Careful about the chips you add... one guy lost most if not all of his hens to aspergillus in there lungs caused by a wood chip pile he was using in their run. It may have been a specific type of chips or weather pattern that made the perfect storm... but I can't help mentioning it.

It was freshly chipped in summer, so lots of wet and warm.
Best to let them age a bit before piling them into a run.
Here's the story:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/dying-chickens.1129854/

 

[Firefoot]

It was freshly chipped in summer, so lots of wet and warm.
Best to let them age a bit before piling them into a run.
Here's the story:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/dying-chickens.1129854/

I had wondered about fresh chips. Luckily I'm a great procrastinator and have let my chip piles sit for months before getting around to using them. The first pile actually sat for over a year because I didn't have chickens yet and I was too lazy to put them in my garden beds. The chips I plan to add this spring have been sitting in my driveway since September so they should be okay after drying out some ... I will definitely keep this in mind, though. What a heartbreaking story.

 

[aart]

Luckily I'm a great procrastinator

One of these will make you almost look forward to moving those chips:

 

[Firefoot]

One of these will make you almost look forward to moving those chips:
View attachment 1675364

Yes, I have one very similar and it is a game-changer!! Still lazy tho

 

[aart]

Yes, I have one very similar and it is a game-changer!! Still lazy tho

You have no excuse, get out there and move those chips!!