what to do to get soil ready?

[TheBoSoxBabeGoesCountry]

I am going to be putting my new turkeys in our old pen that was for our roosters before they became dinner. I have cleaned the poo and such out but is there anything like deoderizer and or such that needs to be done to prep the area. They are 2 weeks old and the weather here in Arkansas is about to get warm and I kinda want to brood them outside instead of my livingroom, lol. Any help would be nice. Hope everyone has a chirpingly great day.

 

[Renee']

Poults need to be kept warm and dry. I wouldn't be in such a rush to kick them outside. Also, they have an extremely poor immune system, until they are several months old. (It's mentioned in several posts on BYC where people don't let their poults touch the dirt until they are 4 months old)

 

[TheBoSoxBabeGoesCountry]

Thank you Renee`, yes I have read the posts about keeping them warm and dry and not to let them hit the ground, thanks for the reminder though. I am not putting them out just yet I don`t want to lose them. The pen I want to put them in is very large and covered already and has a large area that has a light and all so we thought we would prepare it for them if we can find what to do with the dirt that is there. I have already bought some plywood with straw to put over the area till they get big enough. I am just at a loss as what to treat the ground with before then. Thank you again for the reminder, this is why I so love this forum everyone willing to help.

 

[Denninmi]

Put down some lime or "Sweet PDZ" horse stall deodorizer under your flooring. You can also mix the Sweet PDZ right into your bedding, or so I've heard. I haven't used this yet, but am going to try it this summer.

I would definitely raise up the floor if at all possible. Moisture will be really problematic for turkeys.

When I built my pens, I got free pallets from the local water softener place, and put those down, then put discarded carpeting on top of those, and then the bedding. It works great to keep things dry in the enclosures. Which is good, because about 1/3 of my yard was underwater this past weekend due to heavy rains. The birds would have been in one to two inches of standing water were it not for the pallets and carpet. Everyone stayed dry.

 

[Arielle]

Nice idea from Denninmi; nothing like a good floor. One suggestion-- be sure to clean the old floor thoroughly; keeping floors dry depends on a dry subsurface. I see turkeys in my future too.

 

[TheBoSoxBabeGoesCountry]

Thank you Dennimi, I do have lime already so I will start with that. I love the flooring idea also, will have to see if I can get palets from my uncles shop. didn`t even think of that.

 

[chikibabe]

ive used lime to disinfect and deoderise dirt floor horse stables. Its worked for me and as i see others to. Only thing is it can burn skin and eyes. So dont put it on too thick and or if you do. Turn over the soil or broom off the excess dust. Before adding your bedding. Straw seems warmer than sawdust or other bedding materials. Make sure you get the best clean straw you can tho, it should smell almost sweet but definatly not musty or dusty. Straw can house mites in it tho, and the clean packaged sawdust wont. (of course with time it will. Watch 4 saw dust building up around the anus and blocking them up. Allways check 4 clean behinds.

 

[TheBoSoxBabeGoesCountry]

thank you. I have used lime when I was tilling an area before use for the chickens, just didn`t know if it was ok for turkeys. you all have been so helpful. Thank you all