[Orinoco]

Hi

Just thinking about getting our first lot of chickens and we have part of a stable that has been used for chickens in the past with a run (that needs some mending) so far onto mud.

What should I use for cleaning the 'hen house' as I don't know the condition of the previous chickens other than we found a dead one when clearing it out.

And what surface should the chickens have in the run.

thanks

K

[mentalmilly]

We smothered ours with creosote because we had a nasty bout of mites.  This however has got rid of the nasties and we hardly see any now and deal with them before the happen.  Before this we cleaned and powdered with mite spray, useless stuff we found.  If you can l would recommend creosote and it will have time to dry out before you get your chucks. 

[harry]

must be genuine cresote from a farm supplies  only sold in 20ltr drums...... diy cresote is of no use as all the nasty stuff has been taken out of it that kills mites etc

[mentalmilly]

I had my creosote from a local store, 2 litre plastic container, and believe me the mites went running and have not seen them since.

[deepinthewoods]

and lino for the floor, cut it so it goes up the walls by a foot, make it easily removable for pressure washing.

[mentalmilly]

Have not thought of lino, dont the mites get under it and hide?  Super idea for an easy clean floor.

[Orinoco]

I am going to get the creosote for doing all the fences when the weather drys (if), and before any animals go in the field. anyhow so I will use this on the wood.

What about brick and concrete, what should I clean these with, I suppose bleach wouldn't hurt?

K

[harry]

trust me THERE IS NOTHING IN DIY CRESOTE that kills the nasties inc red mite must be origanal genuine stuff....... thats why anyone can buy it from a diy store cos its safe..., the genuine stuff needs proper gloves and breathing mask for that product and that kills all mites.google how to kill red mites it states the same as ive mentioned..... you are wasting your money buying substitute apart from cresoting the wood.

[Orinoco]

Yep

Its the proper stuff I am thinking of getting already know where to get it from, DIY anything is a waste of time, I think the DIY stores are in league with the trades to keep them in business and make DIY'ers feel useless by providing stuff that doesn't work.

K

[deepinthewoods]

thats very true orinoco, and long may it continue.

[harry]

i got 20ltrs about 5 years ago still got loads it keeps.... tried to find a sprayer that works with this stuff but didnt find one get a spray particle mask and gloves cheap enough....LINO ON THE FLOOR great place for everything that crawls to breed and hide same with roofing felt NO NO NO

[colliewoman]

REMOVABLE lino for the floor!! I agree with DITW much easier to pressure wash the worst off outside!
I have lino in the caravan my ducks use, and the shed my chickens use. No problems at all. I have lino in the rabbit sheds, in the rabbit hutches. I have lino in the dogs runs. If I thought I could trust the goats and sheep not to eat it, I would have lino in their sheds and houses too

[happygolucky]

I put plastic sheets down in out hen shed, when I take them up the floor is as good as new, they are easy to take up and clean or hose down.....I had np lino so bought the sheets at £6 each, cheap corrigated ones that take me standing on them and I cut them to size.......

[harry]

what ever happened to regular litter changes ie straw or chopped elephant grass etc BLOODY LINO IN A HEN HOUSE   

[colliewoman]

I still use chopped straw on top, but I find it much easier and quicker to thoroughly clean the floor with lino down