Run floor

[Checota]

We're taking about a run not a coop.


DE and sand can cause respiratory issues also.
Oh, and DE won't prevent or kill mites/lice.
Poops won't break down in sand, you can't get it all out eventually it will become saturated with pulverized poops and reek when damp. How will you scoop poops when the sand freezes?

Seems my little suggestion was taken out of context. I only suggested to add a dust bath in the coop some place dry....because using natural litters can introduce mites into. A coop that never previously had them. Also I stated that I rake up poops weekly and every other day in hen house. No DE is in the hen house and no dust bath is in there. I am not making a judgement about using natural materials in the coop...different soil types require the use of different materials. My intent was to share information which could be used to prevent a problem before it happens.

Hopefully this is an open forum where free sharing is encouraged. I know I have gained a ton of information about keeping chickens in a small coop near the house and seeing the chickens more as pets and not as livestock which is produced for the table

 

[aart]

Seems my little suggestion was taken out of context.

Not at all...just refuting your premises with facts.

because using natural litters can introduce mites into. A coop that never previously had them.

Not likely.......unless it's straw/hay that has been stored where wild birds have had access.

 

[NatJ]

Seems my little suggestion was taken out of context. I only suggested to add a dust bath in the coop some place dry....because using natural litters can introduce mites into. A coop that never previously had them. Also I stated that I rake up poops weekly and every other day in hen house. No DE is in the hen house and no dust bath is in there.

We might have a problem with word meanings here.
"Hen house" is a building chickens live in.
"Run" is an outdoor space they can spend time in the day.
(I think those meanings are obvious to all of us.)

But many people on this site use "coop" to mean the enclosed space where the chickens sleep, nest, and spend time in bad weather.

So "dust bath in the coop" and "dust bath in the hen house" would be considered to mean the same thing.

If you mean the dust bath should be outside but under a roof, you should probably say "dust bath in covered run."

(I don't know what uses are "right," just pointing out how they are usually understood on this particular site. In this case, I think everyone is agreeing about where to put the dust bath, but not about how to say it.)

 

[Checota]

We're taking about a run not a coop.


DE and sand can cause respiratory issues also.
Oh, and DE won't prevent or kill mites/lice.
Poops won't break down in sand, you can't get it all out eventually it will become saturated with pulverized poops and reek when damp. How will you scoop poops when the sand freezes?

At no point did I trash anyone’s else’s suggestion about using natural materials....I only added a helpful tip that a dust bath in the run...which I call coop....with henhouse being the indoor shelter, we are still speaking the same idea just terminology may differ.

What I use is sand, it works for my area, it may not work in other areas, I rake winter with a heavy rake to break up the hard sand crust then light rake the poop and excess food into a dustpan with handle and place in compost pile, I have a stall Matt in the hen house with sand and pine shavings which is cleaned out daily.
The dust bath with DE is located under the henhouse outside. I mix also 20 pounds of DE outside in the sand itself. Every month 1 big box of arm and hammer backing soda is mixed in the sand with activated carbon to freshen things up.

My only recommendation was to add a dust bath with DE in a dry area in the run. Nothing more. Thanks for listening.

 

[Checota]

I do have to say that it seemed to get a bit hostile against a newbie to this forum. Perhaps some folks may feel intimidated to share..fear of being made to feel like they are stupid or uninformed. I find many on this board to really know what they are talking about, then others may feel their way is the only way. I understand we all want to be heard and given recognition but it should not be at the expense of others.

 

[Checota]

We might have a problem with word meanings here.
"Hen house" is a building chickens live in.
"Run" is an outdoor space they can spend time in the day.
(I think those meanings are obvious to all of us.)

But many people on this site use "coop" to mean the enclosed space where the chickens sleep, nest, and spend time in bad weather.

So "dust bath in the coop" and "dust bath in the hen house" would be considered to mean the same thing.

If you mean the dust bath should be outside but under a roof, you should probably say "dust bath in covered run."

(I don't know what uses are "right," just pointing out how they are usually understood on this particular site. In this case, I think everyone is agreeing about where to put the dust bath, but not about how to say it.)

Perfectly stated thank you.