Using Baking Soda in the run

[jarcoo0153]

I have a dirt floored coop under a large pecan tree. I till in the manure every week, then once a month i remove the top layer of dirt and add it to the compost heap. Then I take fresh dirt from my garden and mix it in the coop. This helps keep smell down, and eventually the manure makes it back into the garden and it helps the pecan tree too.

 

[Oscgrr]

This is my first flock and I have thirteen chicks only about seven weeks old but their run started to smell. I have a dirt floor so I took a three pronged cultivator tool and turned the top down a couple of inches. I figured burying the poop would break it down quicker and the chicks love all the bugs and worms I turn up. The smell went away but when they get bigger the problem may return but I'll have fewer birds by then 'cuz the suspected roosters will be re-homed.

 

[BloominOrchid]

Quote:
Hes darling! So sorry you lost him. My boxer Prada loves our chickens too, in fact I think they think shes the chicken momma, bc the follow her around, and if any one squacks she goes running!
So this DE...where do I get it? and does it go by another name? Mind you i live in Philli!

 

[JimWWhite]

I got some at a local hardware store that sells feed and seed and stuff. I had to buy it in 2 lb bags which is enough to treat the coop and run. I bought 2 bags. It's not common here in NC but the owner said he could order me a 40 or 50 lb bag if I wanted it but it would be about $40.

 

[lifelight]

I am here looking up "BLOAT"

in my chicken and found wonderful ideas; baking soda mixed with

water 1 tbsp per gallon.

I want to share about how I clean my chicken area, I use nature, nature designed weather to clean up the mess, the way I do
it is I have my chicken pen 25 feet X 25 feet X 6 feet high steel ostrich fencing and I only keep about 25 full grown chickens or ducks in it at a time. All my brooders and breeding cages have wire mesh floor for self cleaning, about two foot about ground. I might take the garden hose once after season to clean any

lingering excess.

That means each chicken has about 25 square feet of room in the pen, the rain cleans and washed the debris into the ground and my pen is slanted or slightly sloped and the rain washes a lot of the

poop directly in the the adjacent vegetable and flower garden right behind the chicken pen.

I plant some flowers just in case the wind might blow

sweet fragences all around. I feel that ALL THINGS, including chickens and ducks are specifically designed by a higher power and should be given the upmost

respect.

I hatched out a couple ducks and those ducklings love each other so much an my hard heart is melted and broken just watching them, NOW HOW CAN YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT ~ should you have the white or red wine?

No, my friends, DUCKLINGS SAY LOVE, so LET'S OPEN A FRESH CAN OF LOVE

and put the plates and forks away,

Dan

I don't know, you know, ONE SIDE OF YOU SAYS EAT

(LION SIDE) AND THE OTHER

(LAMB SIDE) SAYS LOVE ~ what are we to do?
Right now they make me feel so awesome just by watching them care to each other. I think I'll have them sleep on my pillow?

My wife got mad at me just because I let my Maran Chickens roost on top of her

television set where it is warm, after all I paid a pretty penny for those hatching eggs, that seemed so logical to me

)