Run cleanliness

[karmical]

DE is Diatamaceous Earth. You need to get the kind that's "food grade". NOT the kind people put in their pools. It's different. The food grade is even safe for people to eat. Not that I'd ever give it try myself...

I've read about people using it for all types of pets, so it's fine for your dogs and the dog house.

I get mine online....
http://www.dirtworks.net/Diatomaceous-Earth.html#anchorfossilshellflour
or
http://www.gardenharvestsupply.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=11&idproduct=39

There was a great thread about it here not too long ago...search on DE and I'm sure you'll find it for LOTS more info.

Happy dusting

 

[chickengirlnm]

Would this be something I can buy at the feed store or do I have to order it ? sorry for the dumb questions but I have only had my chickens since easter.

 

[Mac]

No problem, I asked the same questions. You will probably have to order it.
Search under DE on the website. We got ours from dirtworks.com I believe.
ONLY FOOD GRADE DE, nothing else. Any questions, get back on here and talk about it.

 

[rosyposyosy]

A lot of it may have to do with it being to small. You have 9 birds, each bird is supposed to get 10 sq ft, equalling 90 square feet. You have 64 square feet. No Matter, eventually they would get to it all any ways (mine certainly did, and their run is huge!) It's just with a smaller run, they can get to it down to dirt in no time.

And of course - the DE idea sounds cool, I might check into that myself

 

[chickengirlnm]

Thank you Mac I will search and see what I find -

 

[karmical]

MAC!!! You're advice about the sand has revolutionized my run!!! LOL...is it sad that I'm THIS excited about the effect of sand in my chicken run?

I mixed topsoil with playsand and now I can rake to my heart's content out there. I love it so much I rake once in the AM and once in the PM. I think my girls might be helping matters with their scratching too...the poop has become almost invisible. THANKS!!

 

[SisterFlash]

Great topic and great ideas.

If I go for sand in my furture run...how deep do you reccomend?

Barb

 

[karmical]

Hi Barb

and Welcome!!

The addition of the sand in my run is still kinda new, but what I did was mix 40# bags of topsoil with 50# bags of playsand until I got a good 2-inch layer of a loose mixture of the two. Even if it gets to the point where it seems like the girls have tamped it all down, I haven't had any trouble dragging a rake across, turning under the droppings and loosening things up again. I've also noticed that there isn't the muckiness to stick to the bottoms of my boots as much.

The 2-inches seems to be working fine so far, but I think another inch of depth might be even better. Also thinking it might be better for dust-bathing purposes.

That's my 2-cents worth ayways

-Tracy

 

[ivan3]

Chatychick wrote:

...also it helps the upper arms with exercise too...

Now, that observation squares with ours. Cass and I usually spend most free time together out in the most remote stream drainages hauling out fossilized `wood', etc. but, this did not result in wt. loss. According to our Docs: Over the past three yr.s I've lost ten pounds, Cass has lost six (only variable altered: chooks/turkeys). Might make an interesting poll...

On topic: We have ~6" of topsoil over the most loathsome clay. We have been adding play sand continuously on the high sides of the turkey/chook runs (just add another hundred pounds every month on the high side of the runs). We have big rocks along the fence lines and it piles up, but the chooks dig it and the drainage is much improved. Yes, we are pretty rigorous in raking the runs on a daily basis, sand really helps in seperating big nasty stuff out.

If it wasn't for the sand, the poor turkeys would be mucked into a goopy oblivion during the spring rains.

Oh, PLAY SAND/PEA GRAVEL - NOT the fine stuff that they sell as `tube sand' (around here) - it just disappears into the mess.

Play sand is also very useful as a base over wooden floors in coops! (At least it is here).

Here's to poultry induced `upper body strength!!

 

[debashan]

sand is a lifesaver.