building chicken run where bird feeder has been for years

[teriyakigran]

We are new to having chickens- about to build our coop and covered run right in a spot where we've had a lot of sunflower seed droppings, wild bird droppings, etc for years. Should we dig down and remove dirt a few inches in the immediate area? Should we TREAT the surrounding area with ....?.... to be sure we don't have wild bird cooties that could harm my new, young chickens? Not sure if we should be concerned and certainly what we could possibly use to treat the ground safely.

 

[3KillerBs]

It's really just about impossible to completely isolate your chickens from wild birds.

That said, if there is a heavy, visible accumulation of fresh droppings I'd probably remove that, but if the bird feeder has been inactive for some months with the ground exposed to sunlight and weather I probably wouldn't worry about it.

Someone more experienced than I am might have more detailed information about how long pests and pathogens can persist in different environmental conditions..

Is there some specific pest or pathogen carried by wild birds in your area that you are worried about or is it general concern?

You can add your general location to your profile to help people provide more targeted advice.

 

[teriyakigran]

It's really just about impossible to completely isolate your chickens from wild birds.

That said, if there is a heavy, visible accumulation of fresh droppings I'd probably remove that, but if the bird feeder has been inactive for some months with the ground exposed to sunlight and weather I probably wouldn't worry about it.

Someone more experienced than I am might have more detailed information about how long pests and pathogens can persist in different environmental conditions..

Is there some specific pest or pathogen carried by wild birds in your area that you are worried about or is it general concern?

You can add your general location to your profile to help people provide more targeted advice.

 

[teriyakigran]

I wasn't intending to isolate my chickens from wild birds; I was concerned w/the substantial depth of sunflower husks and inevitable droppings in that area. It is a double shepherds hook that has two feeders and I feed a LOT of (a variety of) birds. I will clean what I can/ scrape a few inches down but we were talking and wondering if there was a reason to try to spray down the area w/some sort of solution to reduce risk of any random diseases from those wild birds. (they're fat and happy visitors/ seemingly healthy) We're new to chickens - actually still in the planning stages at this point (have chicks ordered to arrive early June) so now is the time to DO something if we can/should... I appreciate your response. Thanks! Oh and we're in NE quadrant of New Mexico, - I can't figure out how to give more information on my little square off to the left...

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

I wasn't intending to isolate my chickens from wild birds; I was concerned w/the substantial depth of sunflower husks and inevitable droppings in that area. It is a double shepherds hook that has two feeders and I feed a LOT of (a variety of) birds. I will clean what I can/ scrape a few inches down but we were talking and wondering if there was a reason to try to spray down the area w/some sort of solution to reduce risk of any random diseases from those wild birds. (they're fat and happy visitors/ seemingly healthy) We're new to chickens - actually still in the planning stages at this point (have chicks ordered to arrive early June) so now is the time to DO something if we can/should... I appreciate your response. Thanks! Oh and we're in NE quadrant of New Mexico, - I can't figure out how to give more information on my little square off to the left...

@aart

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'd move the feeders now (if you haven't already) and just scrape up any visible droppings best you can. Really isn't anything you can treat soil with (that won't destroy it) so most reasonable thing to do is to keep the wild birds from hanging around the area while the soil sits.

 

[3KillerBs]

We're new to chickens - actually still in the planning stages at this point (have chicks ordered to arrive early June) so now is the time to DO something if we can/should...

In this circumstance I say you should move the feeder now and then let sunlight -- nature's disinfectant -- do it's work.

Maybe till up the ground once or twice in the interval.

 

[Flockincrazy]

I wasn't intending to isolate my chickens from wild birds; I was concerned w/the substantial depth of sunflower husks and inevitable droppings in that area. It is a double shepherds hook that has two feeders and I feed a LOT of (a variety of) birds. I will clean what I can/ scrape a few inches down but we were talking and wondering if there was a reason to try to spray down the area w/some sort of solution to reduce risk of any random diseases from those wild birds. (they're fat and happy visitors/ seemingly healthy) We're new to chickens - actually still in the planning stages at this point (have chicks ordered to arrive early June) so now is the time to DO something if we can/should... I appreciate your response. Thanks! Oh and we're in NE quadrant of New Mexico, - I can't figure out how to give more information on my little square off to the left...

There is no reason to worry unless you have seen sick wild birds

 

[aart]

I'd move the feeders now (if you haven't already) and just scrape up any visible droppings best you can. Really isn't anything you can treat soil with (that won't destroy it) so most reasonable thing to do is to keep the wild birds from hanging around the area while the soil sits.

Ditto Dat!

....and stop feeding the wild birds.

 

[Aapomp831]

In this circumstance I say you should move the feeder now and then let sunlight -- nature's disinfectant -- do it's work.

Maybe till up the ground once or twice in the interval.

Yes. Beat me to it. I would rake up the ground as much as possible, till it a little and let the sun bake it for a couple of days. In NM, you should be able to do that easily.