[harry]

ime downsizeing from a large poultry meadow to a patch round the back of my house...i have a coup and run about 8ft x 2,5ft for 2 or 3 bantams....  the patch is 4 to 6 times this area so i can move the run every week on a 4 to 6 week rota..... my question is can i help to refresh the used ground to stop it getting fowl... if so by useing what? or just a light dig over will do

[lord flynn]

you can use lime if they aren't to be on it for a while-will kill nasties and help the pH. worm them a few days before you let them out for for the first time and then worm regularly-should be fine

[harry]

how long before the lime is safe

[lord flynn]

there's two different sorts-garden lime which raises pH and not so potentially harmful to stock but isn't as good at killing nasties-or builders (hydrated) lime which is more effective at killing nasties but not so good for your animals and plants.
I've used both-I used garden lime on my grass pens and I've used builders lime on earth pens, dug it in well and left if for a couple of months. If you only have the three banties and are moving them regularly, you'll not need to lime often.


If you are moving them around your lawn, garden lime is what you need-builders lime is not nice stuff.

[/size][size=78%]For garden lime I usually keep them off for a few days, until its well rained in. [/size]