Looking for ideas, disinfecting dirt chicken run

[getreal]

I seem to have a mystery illness affecting my flock. I am looking for ideas on how to disinfect the dirt in my run. I have heard of Stalosan F, but it's expensive and even more expensive to ship. Are there any alternatives? Would barn lime work?

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[aart]

I seem to have a mystery illness affecting my flock.

Did all your chickens die?
Any chance of sending one for a necropsy with labs?
About the only way you'll find out just what you are trying to eradicate.

I am looking for ideas on how to disinfect the dirt in my run.

It's about impossible to disinfect dirt.

 

[RoyalChick]

Virkon S is approved as a disinfectant that kills many viruses including Marek's. It is used in commercial animal houses to sanitize them between batches of animals but is available for consumer purchase.
It is nasty corrosive stuff apparently so you need to use gloves etc.
As @aart said it isn't possible to totally clean dirt, but if you are worried about a specific virus this stuff will give it a run for its money if you flood the place with it.
Personally I would make sure you know what you are dealing with in your flock before assuming disinfecting is the right approach. Send a chicken for necropsy and/or take some swabs from still living chickens. Some infectious agents are killed by heat or dry and it may not be an infection at all. So I wanted to answer your question, but I think you need to understand the situation a bit more before jumping to disinfectants.

 

[getreal]

No, not all my chickens died. I am losing them one here one there. But can't identify what the problem is. I can't afford a necropsy. We thought there may be a contaminate in the soil of the runs. At this point I am not going to purchase more birds.

 

[Folly's place]

It's much more likely that either it's 'normal attrition' or something that's just not obvious. Better to spend the money on a necropsy, rather than on toxic awfulness that's not going to help anything.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Having a fecal run at the veterinarian's will be inexpensive, and might turn up an intestinal parasite problem, for example.
And making sure your birds are eating a balanced diet.
Try posting on the diseases and emergencies section for help too.
Mary

 

[getreal]

I was looking for help, not sarcasm. I can’t pull money out of my “hat” for a necropsy. I wasn’t interested in toxic chemicals.

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

I was looking for help, not sarcasm. I can’t pull money out of my “hat” for a necropsy. I wasn’t interested in toxic chemicals.

I dont think they meant sarcasm. If you can, give your local vet a call. even if they dont' treat birds, many will run a fecal exam for parasites, etc. for us it was about $35+tax, maybe that's doable?

 

[Ponyiqandhens2]

I seem to have a mystery illness affecting my flock. I am looking for ideas on how to disinfect the dirt in my run. I have heard of Stalosan F, but it's expensive and even more expensive to ship. Are there any alternatives? Would barn lime work?

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There is a less corrossive option.. we do the foaling stalls which have dirt floors and after a batch of rhoddoccochus that killed 2 and almost killed 5 other foals..we switched how we sanitized between foalings..we have solid wood walls and dirt floors..this was the vets recommendation we do a 1 part bleach to 10 parts water..saturate everything..then let dry come back rake the floor, use nolvasan/chlorahexadine full strength let dry..we do three of each.. every surface..takes 24 to 30 hours, so you would have tp be able to house them elsewhere for at least 36-48 hours..

 

[Folly's place]

Marek's disease won't be eliminated that way, because the dust and dander is just about impossible to eliminate in a run or coop.
And loosing foals is terrible! Glad you could take care of this.
Mary