Usage of lime.

[3KillerBs]

Yes, it does, it neutralizes ammonia. It was my life saver this spring when we had a lot of rain.

Sometimes these things can be helpful in an unusual situation.

But there is no substitute for good drainage, appropriate bedding, and excellent ventilation to keep things clean, dry, and odor-free.

 

[SmiYa0126]

Sometimes these things can be helpful in an unusual situation.

But there is no substitute for good drainage, appropriate bedding, and excellent ventilation to keep things clean, dry, and odor-free.

Agreed! We had crazy downpours for a month, after I cleaned out all the pine bedding I used to keep things not sopping wet, it trapped ammonia... I used lime to dry it out, and still use lime when I clean their run to keep flies down.

Also I scoop their poo every day. We have a sheep farm nearby, lots of flies!

 

[3KillerBs]

Agreed! We had crazy downpours for a month, after I cleaned out all the pine bedding I used to keep things not sopping wet, it trapped ammonia... I used lime to dry it out, and still use lime when I clean their run to keep flies down.

Also I scoop their poo every day. We have a sheep farm nearby, lots of flies!

I can't bear to scoop poop so I use Deep Bedding and Deep Litter.

 

[aart]

Agreed! We had crazy downpours for a month, after I cleaned out all the pine bedding I used to keep things not sopping wet, it trapped ammonia... I used lime to dry it out, and still use lime when I clean their run to keep flies down.

Also I scoop their poo every day. We have a sheep farm nearby, lots of flies!

Do you don't use any type of bedding in your ...is this a coop and/or run?

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[SmiYa0126]

Do you don't use any type of bedding in your ...is this a coop and/or run?

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 3226023

I added it!

I use aged mulch, a little bit of pine shavings and some straw. Plus lime over it all every month or so.

 

[AddieAZ]

I have used FSL plus DE (diatomaceous earth) for my coop and dust baths. There are health hazard risks I'm taking with using DE but my personal belief is that it works better than FSL at killing bugs and external parasites. A lot of FSL is required to work (thick layer) and I've watched bugs walk all over the FSL without dying. So I'm using FSL more as a drying agent, smell absorber, and as a safer alternative to DE so that I only need to use a smaller amount of DE. I sprinkle both all over the aspen bedding in their nests, on the sand in their run, as a solid perimeter barrier for the coop, and in their dust baths. Of note, both will wash away into the ground when it rains so will need to be reapplied. So far, my chickens have been free of ticks, fleas and mites so perhaps this is working. However, I recently discovered scaly leg mites on them so apparently it is not as effective on such microscopic mites that live on the chickens themselves. I sprayed the entire coop down with permethrin after that.

 

[Kelster65]

That is what I am asking. I see everyone using it for almost everything.putting it in drinking water, dust baths, floors.

I use both DE and first Saturday lime. I also have stall pdz. I bought first Saturday lime because it's good around the chickens and ducks and I was afraid to use anything else as some lime (hydrolyzed lime) will burn their feet and I didn't want to risk buying the wrong thing or getting a mixture. I use sand bedding and the two products keep ants, bugs, lice, mites etc away from the coop and run. We also got flooded this summer and the sand had a smell after it dried - the stall pdz freshened it up too. I also sprinkle a little in dust baths. I use a flour sifter with mine. Both are really fine powder but I found the sifter helps keep it from going into a big dump pile. Since all of it can irritate their and our lungs, I'll lightly rake the lime and DE into the sand in the coop but let them mix it up outside. I have been putting it down every few weeks and just noticed ants and tiny bugs in the coop floor yesterday so did it again. It's only effective when dry so if it washes off you'll need to put down fresh. You can also put food grade DE into their feed as a natural dewormer. It may be overkill but if you are interested, look into white washing the inside of your coop. It's hydrated lime and water mixed (about $10/50 lb bag) but it deters mites, lice, etc., from wooden coops too and should be done about once a year.

 

[SKP]

I've never used it. Never needed to. I keep the coop and run dry and there is no odor.
Where is it that you want to use it and why?

I use it every time I clean their coop and run. I clean them everyday. It helps to keep every bug and spider out of the coop for me. I use the First Saturday Lime every tim. It’s safe for them and you. It does do the job. I have only had chickens for 6 month and I use the sand method in the run and their coop. Hope this helps you.

 

[ValarieF]

I guess what I'm asking is does anybody use it for anything? Is it good to use it as a preventative? Does it matter? What about other types of lime? I'm just wondering if it's all advertisement?

I use first saturday lime in my coop to keep bugs away. And diatomaceous earth outside and in there dust baths. keeps bugs away and mites and lice and yes it is safe if used right.

 

[3KillerBs]

What "bugs" are you all worried about?

Those things, if they work at all, don't do a thing about mites/lice on the birds or on the roosts and the chickens actively EAT the normal bugs that exist in any outdoor area.