Disinfecting ground

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Lucylou

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Not sure if this is general or health! Anyway, just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how to 'disinfect' ground that chooks live on when in a closed run.

I have an enclosed run, quite large but over the time is now just bare ground, all grass long gone!!! I think that its time to try & disinfect it if its possible, Over the winter I had bark chippings (& straw when it got really wet on the bit thats undercover) but they've broken down now & its a good opportunity to do something to the ground if I can.

My first flock were on it for a year & when I lost them to a fox there was a few months rest before the new lot arrived & they've been here for about a year now.

I've heard of people digging over the ground, anyone know if this does any good? Also there are disinfectants I believe but don't know if it works on soil.

Look forward to any tips, thanksxx
 
I don't know the answer to this lucylou but will be very intersted to know the same - I was just about to do a similar post. Great minds think alike.
 
Hi, you can use hydrated or garden lime- ( do not get slate lime as it can burn their feet) sprinkle it on the soil- dig it in and water well -it will kill all or any nasties- it's best to keep the birds off for a few days or until it is watered/washed in- it will freshen the ground.
regards, David :)
 
Thanks David, thats great advice. I have read that allottment keepers use lime between plantings but didn't know if it would work for 'us'! I'll get some & time it before a rain forecast - don't suppose I'll have to wait long!
 
How about if your chooks are kept on gravel with a liner underneath, can you use hydrated garden lime on that in the same way? If so, how often would you advise using it? My 5 chooks live in the same large area as we have no where else for them to go. If its not good to use whilst the chooks are around can you put it on overnight? I poop pick every night after they have gone to bed, but am concerned that over a longer period that 'nasties' may lurk on the ground and it would be nice to freshen the area on a regular basis if its safe to do so :?
 
My chickens are on grass, they are just recovering from coccidiosis even though we move the run fortnightly and I scoop the poo 3 times a day. Somebody on this forum advised spraying it with Virkon, has anybody else tried this? I don't really wnt to dig the grass up, could I use the lime?
 
Hi----its me that's the Virkon user! I used it first following a bout of coccy on advice of a vet when I asked what was the best thing to erradicate it from the ground.Repeated treatment of ground,run and house seemed to resolve the problem with no ill effects to ground or birds.Ros
 
Hi, I was just wondering if anybody has used Stalosan F Disinfectant as a general ground disinfectant.
 
In the henhouse I use stalosan F, a dry disinfectact that has activity against occysts. I also use Virkon S as a deep clean. I use garden lime if I feel the ground needs a break, birds off it then for at least 6mths. With a smallish static run, deep wood chip/bark would be a good idea as long as it is refreshed regulary and can drain effectively I would think it would be fine.
 
Thanks again Ros, I'm off to find some Virkon tomorrow, the girls seem to be recovering nicely now. we've moved the run again and prepared the grass in the old run ready for a good disinfect. Will it be ok to move them back in a couple of weeks?
 
we cant move the run, so would digging up. putting on & watering well - or when rain is due be ok? Obviously after the chooks have gone to bed :D
 
Here is a saying relating to infection control--and if you consider it many other problems we meet in life----'The solution to pollution is dilution ' !! Ros :lol:
 
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