Keeping a clean coop...

[aart]

So many on here will tell you not to use FGDE, but I have used it for 4 years and have yet to have a mite infestation.

Many will tell you this too...it's no proof.
I don't use it and have not had mites.
I've read a lot of stories about DE use as a preventative and then a mite infestation happens anyway.
Sorry, serious pet peeve about this type of misinformation.

 

[ValerieJ]

Many will tell you this too...it's no proof.
I don't use it and have not had mites.
I've read a lot of stories about DE use as a preventative and then a mite infestation happens anyway.
Sorry, serious pet peeve about this type of misinformation.

I know. You're one of the ones telling me this all the time.

 

[HennyPenny2019]

Do you do this for odor control......or just to satisfy some need of your own>
I just wrote on another thread:
What makes us keepers 'feel good', might not be the best for the birds

After reading the post about Spruce Coop I looked it up, read the ingredients and ordered some. Is it necessary, no .. is it harmful ... very doubtful. My girls are pets, I have spent a ridiculous amount of money on a coop and custom built pen/run. I think there are “serious” chicken people on here and there are “pet” chicken people on here. Different but neither is wrong. I am the second and take it very serious.

I get mine on Amazon, but I am sure you can find it on other websites. I like the smell, the chickens seem to like eating the dried flowers, and it is supposed to help them be calm while laying - jury is out on that since they are pretty calm in the nesting boxes anyway. The coop does occasionally get spiders, so that helps with mites- also cover everything with DE in the coop - shavings, nesting boxes, roost

 

[HennyPenny2019]

I get mine on Amazon, but I am sure you can find it on other websites. I like the smell, the chickens seem to like eating the dried flowers, and it is supposed to help them be calm while laying - jury is out on that since they are pretty calm in the nesting boxes anyway. The coop does occasionally get spiders, so that helps with mites- also cover everything with DE in the coop - shavings, nesting boxes, roost

I ordered it yesterday from Amazon. I would think the chickens would eat spiders? No mites here ... not yet. I clean my coop each morning and wipe the vinyl floor with Clorox wipes. So far so good, but with cold weather approaching I’m going to have to start putting wood chips on the floor ... unless I add central heating

 

[Folly's place]

I'd think that a bare vinyl floor would be slippery for them; better to add bedding of some sort. And Clorox wipes every day? I hope you have stock in the company! Let's just say that it's overkill...
I consider myself a serious experienced pet and production chicken person, BTW. The roles are not mutually exclusive, and 'pet chickens' are still chickens.
Mary

 

[HennyPenny2019]

I'd think that a bare vinyl floor would be slippery for them; better to add bedding of some sort. And Clorox wipes every day? I hope you have stock in the company! Let's just say that it's overkill...
I consider myself a serious experienced pet and production chicken person, BTW. The roles are not mutually exclusive, and 'pet chickens' are still chickens.
Mary

Thank you for your input, I am new at this but an old hand at keeping birds and other animals. The vinyl floor was chose for texture and ease of cleaning. I use about 3 Clorox wipes per day as an extra step in ensuring a clean environment for my girls. I don’t have stock in the company, but buy the multipacks at Sams club. My chickens are pets first ... meaning I won’t be eating them and they are catered to as one does with a pet rather than a farm animal.