How do I clean Dirt??!

[Laurelm]

I have several chicken pens that I raked a few times a week but when the rains came, actually a couple storms dropped 4-5 inches each, the pens went to serious crappy mud! The birds were fine because I put in pallets and covered them with ply wood in their shelters and they had their perches. However due to the mud the dirt in the pens is now hard packed and unsanitary. Fly season is beginning and I want to “clean my dirt” – what can I use??
Is there anything I can put on the ground to sanitize it that is 100% safe for my birds??
If I had a tractor I’d just scrap it but I don’t and that’s a expense I can’t bear right now.
Any help based on your own experience would be great.
Thank you.

 

[speckledhen]

You can till in lime. Agricultural is safer, but hydrated is stronger. That will help lots. With hydrated, it must be rained/watered in or it will burn their feet, but it does a better job of sweetening the soil.

 

[En Plein Air Farms]

I think I read just a few days ago that lime is deadly if the chickens eat it. We are having our farm fields limed next week and we've fenced the chickens completely off that area. You might be better served by adding a bale or two of fir shavings? the chickens will work it up and pretty soon you won't know that dirt was flooded...

 

[Laurie's Silkies]

I would haul in some playground sand and spread that out. at least a couple inches deep. That would take care of the mud and the stink and your chickens would have a place to dust bathe and they would stay clean looking.

 

[El Naked Neck]

can you post a pic of your pens, so i can get a better idea on how to help you!

 

[Akane]

Next rainstorm will make a mess out of shavings in a run. Sand would be the best choice for long term. Barn lime should be safe around chickens. Our horse stalls and all out buildings without concrete floors are packed barn lime and we didn't have mats down until the past year. The lime you spread on fields I couldn't say. It was already mentioned it can come in concentrations that are dangerous. DE might also help some.

 

[rancher hicks]

I put in bales of straw. I just untie it and let them have a field day scratching it apart. I throw scratch in too this keep them busy. Then after it gets mixed up I rake it up and throw some more scratch and let them keep working it. finally I just clean it up and put it in the compost and get another bale of straw.

 

[Laurelm]

Thank you all - the mud is dry and is compacted into nasty dirt with chicken poop mixed in. It rained again an inch and a half this week and got really yucky again - now it drying but smelly. Shaving work fine but get compacted into the mess in the long run. I know I must not be the only person with this problem.

I will reserach lime.

If I could just scrap the dirt way down - but that requires a tractor - the dirt is darn hard and packed tight! I was hoping something would sorta draw the inpurities out.

 

[chickbird]

Quote:
i spray mine with a hand sprayer with a good strong bleach and water mixture, let it dry and then scatter costal bermuda hay. when the hay get dirty, rake up and use in the gardern and add fresh hay.

 

[Neilette]

Bleach in your garden??