The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: northfifeduckling on January 24, 2009, 11:51:57 am

Title: adding lime to improve freerange soil
Post by: northfifeduckling on January 24, 2009, 11:51:57 am

I've read  somewhere that if you had lots of rain (we certainly did, the garden is a mud puddle!) you should add lime to improve the soil for your poultry. Does anyone have experience with doing that? I've added garden lime to my veggie plot to improve the ph, but am a bit hesitant re amount and frequency around where the ducks slobber away...Should I rake it into the mud or sprinkle it over the lawn? Can it be harmful for the birds?

Title: Re: adding lime to improve freerange soil
Post by: ballingall on January 24, 2009, 05:26:37 pm

We use lime to try and help get rid of the buttercups growing in the field, not heard of any other uses.

Title: Re: adding lime to improve freerange soil
Post by: Rosemary on January 25, 2009, 08:43:28 pm

My understanding is that lime is used to increase the ph of soil. Most plants like a slightly acid soil but if there is lots of manure it gets TOO acid, so lime, being an alkali, helps redress the balance. My favourite toy last year was y pH meter!

I've also read that liming soil where chooks have been also helps to get rid of parasites such as worms.

Normally, soil would be limed once a year, I think, is spring. I'd try and keep livestock off until it's washed in.

Title: Re: adding lime to improve freerange soil
Post by: northfifeduckling on January 25, 2009, 09:02:17 pm

Thanks, Rosemary!
Your reply is really helpful, as the area I had in mind for the treatment was mainly around their feeder. I meant to get a mobile fence unit anyway.
I'll quote from the website below, it might be helpful to people with ducks. Although we don't have call ducks (campells, blue swedish and indian runner), one showed those symptoms last year. Oyster shell did the trick, but the ducks seem to eat less and less of what we give them as they are free range and it would help if the soil is more beneficial.

"* lime the ground with slaked lime or calcified seaweed if you live in high rainfall area, especially if the soil is acid and there is no lime in the ground. It is essential that ducks have the correct minerals to form a good shell, and that enough calcium is available for them to use when laying eggs too. Calcium is also needed for muscle contractions to push the eggs down and out of the oviduct." from
http://www.callducks.net/egg_problems