Hydrated lime to clean run - Pro's and Con's?

[Granolamom]

Our 30x15 chicken run is mucky and stinks, due to some heavy rains in the past few weeks. I have woodchips in it, and have raked it a lot to dry it out, but it's still pretty nasty.
I've heard of using hydrated lime to clean and renew the run, but would like to know if it's safe to let the hens back into it right away, or if it will burn their little feet.
Any input will be greatly appreciated.

 

[SPRING CREEK FARM]

Hydrated lime will burn their feet!

If that is all that you have or can get your hands on, I would not use it unless you are able to dig in into the soil about a foot, either by hand or with a tiller and then top dress with some sand and dusting material ( I use sawdust for their dust baths) and some gravel if you can get it. You just don't want them to come in direct contact with hydrated lime. If you can get the agricultural grade lime, that should be fine to use and will not burn their feet. There is a difference in these two grades of lime...one will burn and the other will not.
We have had a lot of rain here too and when it gets a bit wet and stinky, I sprinkle the food grade DE on the runs after I have raked them out and it also helps to dry out the pens/runs. I use the DE in between cleanings and it seems to help out quite a bit!

 

[Andora]

I use garden/agricultural lime in my pen along with DE and it doesn't hurt their feet. If you live near a TSC they sell the garden lime there!

 

[AHappychick]

get Organic Traditions Pellted lime (almost all nuseried and home depot carry) it is fine for you, chooks, and anywhere else. I used it in all of my runns a few weeks ago after it rained all of June its about $3.50 a bag

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

I would loose the wood chips if I were you. We tried that before and they just hold the water in the run. We took them all out and added sand, that's the only thing we use now.

Steve in NC

 

[Andora]

Quote:
When I had a run I used sand too, and I had a small rake that I used to rake the poop balls and feathers to the end of the run, then I scooped them out and composted them. It worked so well!

 

[Granolamom]

Thanks for all the replies, guys!
I went to TSC and bought pelleted garden lime yesterday (non burning). I raked out a lot of the wood chips, loosened up the soil underneath, spread the lime, and then raked it again.
As far as the wood chips are concerned, I have not been too happy with them, myself. They seemed like a pretty cost effective solution to mud prevention at the time, but they do hold the moisture in the run, and the chickens don't really seem to like them, either. I might switch to sand, too (hate I spent all that money on 2 truckloads full of wood chips...

)

 

[AHappychick]

you can pull the wood chips out pile them up and use them s mulch next year after they have "cooked" and use it next in your gardens

2 truck loads is a lot of chips, sorry

 

[nop169]

we have kept chickens & other poultry for 20 years and use hydrated ag. grade lime for smell & fly control with no problem in our pens/kennels/barn under shavings. However as for the poultry, about 10 years ago we went from a stationary coop with 2 halves & 2 yards (we rotated the hens from one side to the other to clean & planted the bare yard while they ate the growing yard) to using 10 x 10 dog kennels with tarped roofs. I did this because I use it as a chicken tractor. I can move it by myself from one spot to another with little trouble by dragging it. Our nasty coop issue was resolved & my sinuses appreciate it! In winter we position the coop over the raised garden grids & allow the hens to eat the weeds & scratch in the leaf mulch. In summer they are moved every 4 to 5 days to a new patch of grass. The hens are healthier & I have less problems with flys & rats. not to mention the eggs taste great with less intensive labor of supplying greens. we keep approx. 20 hens of various breeds. I purchased my kennels used and paid 75.00 for the highest in price - thats muck cheaper than wood & wire.