What is everybody using to sterilize their loft?

[LamarshFish]

Got at least one sickness going through my loft. (1) at least two YBs with green poop for over a week, likely YB sickness, maybe e.coli traveling through their system in places it should not be and/or in excessive volumes (2) one mature cock bird with what appears to be a respiratory infection (he's coughing) and (3) in the past 1-2 months a high infant mortality rate (squabs do not live past 5 days) and high rate of eggs not hatching. All point to something going through my loft, and likely being passed on to offspring. Currently treating with meds, but a few days into the meds I want to disinfect the loft.

What is everybody using to disinfect their loft? So far I think I will use a bleach solution diluted with water.

BTW, all this happened in what I consider to be a pretty clean loft. I scrape poop daily, it never accumulates, and my loft is not overcrowded. It has been very warm and humid here lately though.

Thanks in advance!

 

[CCUK]

I haven't had to clean mine out yet but I will use Virkon s to disinfect. It's the same as I use for the chickens and is completely safe and kills all the nasties that lurk like ecoli and cocci. I know bleach is good, but in a low concentration. I use that to clean the feeders and drinkers. Just a question about poo, is it a sign something isn't right when they do light green poos? Could it be stress? They don't seem unwell.

 

[LamarshFish]

I haven't had to clean mine out yet but I will use Virkon s to disinfect. It's the same as I use for the chickens and is completely safe and kills all the nasties that lurk like ecoli and cocci. I know bleach is good, but in a low concentration. I use that to clean the feeders and drinkers. Just a question about poo, is it a sign something isn't right when they do light green poos? Could it be stress? They don't seem unwell.

I'm not entirely sure. I think any shade of green for a prolonged period indicates something is awry, whether that be infection or stress. I have seen pretty consistently that stressed out birds, often when taken to travel around or settled to a new loft, will have loose green droppings for a day or so. My two YBs have consistently had forest green poop for a few weeks. I'm going the medication route. My one cock bird with a respiratory is still wheezing and coughing. I'm really hoping those stronger antibiotics come ASAP.

Because (1) whatever is going through my loft appears to possibly be affecting hatch and squab mortality rates, and (2) because 3 week and younger squabs can be messed up by medications, I unfortunately had to toss two clutches of eggs yesterday. I candled them and they were not developed yet, but it was still sad to me. No laying or hatching until I can get this round of meds through my birds, and the loft sterilized and start fresh.

 

[CCUK]

Sounds like a headache you could be doing without. I can't really suggest anything as I'm still new to all this but I'm sure the meds will have an effect and everything will settle down. It rubbish you have had to chuck eggs but even if they were late developers you could still have problems after they hatch. Just a stab in the dark but could there be a feed issue? Old feed or mouldy feed could possibly cause respiratory problems. If you had alot of rain and it's been damp outside? Idk?