Topic: can anyone help with muddy/smelly ground?

[beanie3]

hi,

I have four chickens, whom happily live down the bottom of the garden all securly setioned off....so here goes my problem.....with the glorious weather we have been having (not) the ground has got boggy and smelly.  i have heard garden lime will sweeten the soil but is it okay as the chickens will be kicking it around?

I normally put bark down so its not so boggy......but the ground still stinks any suggestions?

thanks in advance. x

[northener]

What about wood shavings. Clean them out every week, if you buy in bulk its not expensive.Plus it composts well.

[Poet]

well, we have a covered run on soil and on top of the soil, there is a layer of aubiose.

Is your area covered?  That will help it to stay drier obviously.

we dig garden lime and stalosan f into the soil once a month after we've raked out the dirty aubiose, then fresh aubiose goes on top of the soil.

If your run is open ot the elements then I don't know what to suggest. 

[beanie3]

thanks poet - yes it is open to the elements.  so i am guessing garden lime is NOT harmful to chickens.....would that be correct?

[Poet]

correct, it's just calcium so it won't do them any harm.

[kt.]

well, we have a covered run on soil and on top of the soil, there is a layer of aubiose.

I have had hens for a couple of years and never heard of AUBIOSE.  What is it and what is is for please :-[

[Baccy Man]

Aubiose is bedding material made from hemp similar to hemcore but a bit finer, it's very popular with people who keep horses.

[beanie3]

I have also never heard of amboise - is it cheaper than bark?  does it do the same job as bark?

sorry for the stupid questions.......

but thanks to everyone for the useful advice......

[Poet]

we used to use hemcore but aubiose is a bit softer and finer.  Both are made from the core of the hemp plant, it's very absorbant and soaks up the poops but it wouldn't be any good if your run is not covered.  It also composts wonderfully.  You can get it on line or from most horsey type places.

we use it in the run and the coop.  The girls love dust bathing in it.

[louise stella]

You could use Stalosan F - it's a safe broad spectrum disinfectant powder.  It disinfects and sanitises all in one!!  No more pongs!

Louise

[beanie3]

Wow - thanks Louise - i just googled as i have never heard of it before - and that looks just the kiddy.....now need to find a supplier - but hey thats the easy part - thanks once again.

G x