Difficulty cleaning with wire underneath

[MooseCaboose]

Hello! I have two outside runs for my birds and I'm not sure how I can get it clean. Their regular coop has bedding in the bottom of the shed that I can easily cleanup- hose out- and replace, however they have two outside runs that needed to have wire put at the bottom of the cage too (they're on a farm and we had trouble with a fishercat once that was so quick in it's digging we didn't see it in time...). But I can't shovel it out because of the wire and it gets really stinky/messy! Any suggestions would be welcome! I feel like shavings would just blow away (even though two sides have cover for shade options for the birds).

Thoughts?

Thanks!

Natasha

http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~hawke

 

[Brindlebtch]

Sprinkle it heavily with lime and DE. That won't clean it up but will dry it out and keep it from getting really stinky and slimy. There are a lot of enzyme products out there that will help digest all the poop. Zapsit is a good one that I use but there are bunches out there.

 

[MissJenny]

Can you fill your run with sand up to a couple of inches -- this way the poop will be on top and can be sifted out for a cleaner area?

Jenny

 

[MooseCaboose]

Can you tell me what DE is (and where I could find it)? Does it need to be mixed with the lime? Are the poop digestor's safe for the chickens to eat? Are there some better then another? Where can I find something like that?

Thanks!

 

[Amethyste]

DE is Diatomaceous Earth.... its a fine powder usually... and it is made up of fossilized diatoms.

I bought mine at the farm co-op, it was labled FOOD GRADE. Be sure to use the food grade tho and not any other kind!! Food grade means that if they eat it its ok and you dont have to worry. Some people add a little to the feed to help with worms (hence the food grade label...people can ingest it too!). It is a natural product that to us is harmless < unless we breathe it in so use a mask!!> but to insects it is like walking on razor blades!! It also dessicates and dehydrates the inscect eggs that come in contact as well. That is why some people sprinkle the DE over pets who have fleas too...it helps

I use it in my outside run. I add a layer, enough to look like a light dusting of snow about 1x a week. It helps with insects and drying out the poo too. I also use the lime at the same time and then rake it over the night before <i do this at night so it has a chance to sit while birdies are sleeping>

It doesnt HAVE to be mixed with lime but some people do. I add to my run in this order.... original dirt, then a layer of garden/agriculture lime and then a layer of DE and work in with a rake. Then I add sand, and then another layer of DE and lime and then cover with wood chips <medium>.

 

[MooseCaboose]

Thank you!

 

[Toast n Jelly]

Can you not hose it down after the hens are in for the night?