First Saturday Lime vs. Ag lime

[chickenmama2021]

New Chicken Mama here! I have moved my 13 chickens into their coop last week and they are doing great! The coop has no floor and is just on the ground. I have put a good thick layer of pine shavings down, but I am wondering if I need to add lime. Of course I have seen the ads for First Saturday Lime, but how is it different than regular Ag Lime? I am terrified of mites or lice infestation and want to make sure I take the proper measures to keep it from happening. I live in Central Mississippi and we have had a VERY wet and rainy spring so the ground is staying wet. I added more shavings to help with the moisture. Any tips or advice is appreciated!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'm not exactly sure what First Saturday lime is. Looks like a cure all type of product.

We use plain old Mighty White barn lime here. It dries things out, and is cheap. I don't think it will work on a bare floor coop as far as keeping it dry. It can help cut ammonia smells.

If your floor stays damp you might consider a sand floor, or doing deep litter.

 

[3KillerBs]

What lime does is neutralize acidity. It doesn't absorb moisture, deter bugs, kill odors, or anything else like that. It's just ground limestone whatever brand you buy -- sometimes dolomitic limestone, but just rock powder. (Quicklime is a different matter -- that's caustic and dangerous).

I only add lime to my coop bedding to give the compost a head start since I have extremely acidic conditions and use a mix of pine straw and pine shavings.

 

[lulu1819]

New Chicken Mama here! I have moved my 13 chickens into their coop last week and they are doing great! The coop has no floor and is just on the ground. I have put a good thick layer of pine shavings down, but I am wondering if I need to add lime. Of course I have seen the ads for First Saturday Lime, but how is it different than regular Ag Lime? I am terrified of mites or lice infestation and want to make sure I take the proper measures to keep it from happening. I live in Central Mississippi and we have had a VERY wet and rainy spring so the ground is staying wet. I added more shavings to help with the moisture. Any tips or advice is appreciated!

I'm in South Mississippi and have the same question!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What lime does is neutralize acidity. It doesn't absorb moisture, deter bugs, kill odors, or anything else like that. It's just ground limestone whatever brand you buy -- sometimes dolomitic limestone, but just rock powder. (Quicklime is a different matter -- that's caustic and dangerous).

I only add lime to my coop bedding to give the compost a head start since I have extremely acidic conditions and use a mix of pine straw and pine shavings.

Barn lime is a bit different. It is made to absorb liquid, and neutralize odors. We use it mostly on concrete floors, and rabbit urine. It's used in the dairy business to keep things a bit cleaner. It's different than lime put on the soil. It also can be made into whitewash.

 

[3xhhheather]

I layer barn lime > horse pellets > pine shavings to keep things dry and from getting too smelly.

From the First Saturday Lime website, their product is a combo of hydrated lime & citric acid that has been neutralized from giving a dangerous chemical reaction. But they don't exactly explain why it's better than barn lime, just that it's 'stronger'.

I would give the regular barn lime a try first - 50lb for $3.29 (TSC) vs. 20lbs of FSL for $30 (Amazon).

 

[Harris14]

I layer barn lime > horse pellets > pine shavings to keep things dry and from getting too smelly.

From the First Saturday Lime website, their product is a combo of hydrated lime & citric acid that has been neutralized from giving a dangerous chemical reaction. But they don't exactly explain why it's better than barn lime, just that it's 'stronger'.

I would give the regular barn lime a try first - 50lb for $3.29 (TSC) vs. 20lbs of FSL for $30 (Amazon).

Will barb lime hurt chickens if they ingest it somehow

 

[Harris14]

Will barb lime hurt chickens if they ingest it somehow

Barn lime not barb lime. Stupid phone

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Will barb lime hurt chickens if they ingest it somehow

We use barn lime daily here, and we have never had a problem. If your chickens are consuming the lime enough to notice make sure they have free access to oyster shells, and grit.

 

[Harris14]

We use barn lime daily here, and we have never had a problem. If your chickens are consuming the lime enough to notice make sure they have free access to oyster shells, and grit.

Thank you. I’ve never used it but plan to.