Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
My favorite litter material is straw derived from (in order of preference) wheat, oat,
barley, and rye. Wheat straw is the softest and easiest to work with and is very ab-
sorbent. Oat straw is coarser but also absorbs well. Barley straw is acceptable, but the
beards from the barley can make it itchy and irritating for you to deal with. Rye straw
tends to be long and coarse and not quite as absorbent as the others.
I have recently started using millet straw and found it equally functional. Crops
grown in your area may dictate your choices.
Sawdust and shavings are not the best choices for adult birds and should never be
used with waterfowl. When these litter materials get wet, the ammonia in the bird's
waste concentrates, making their living quarters uninhabitable.
It's a good idea to clean out pens at least twice a month in seasons when the hu-
midity is high and the litter becomes packed and tamped down. Clean more often
if your building becomes crowded and you notice these conditions occur more fre-
quently. Of course, you must adjust your cleaning schedule to fit your needs, but keep
flock health the top priority.
Your birds should never be forced to stand in nothing but manure; they'll stay
healthier if they have dry straw to stand on, especially when it's cold. It is always
a good philosophy to put yourself in the flock's position and ask if you are making
them endure conditions that would be unacceptable for you. However, also keep in
mind that poultry like to pick through waste and fibrous material. Cleaning everyday
is not required.
The best strategy for maintaining a healthful environment involves use of your
nose. If you enter a closed-up building and the ammonia is so strong it makes your
eyes water, then get in gear and start cleaning! Your poor birds would appreciate it if
you didn't wait so long next time.
What Sort of Shelter?
Do you want to build a structure on your own from plans found in a poultry topic, or
install something rather simple that doesn't require much in the way of planning? You
could purchase a small shed-type structure or chain-link dog run found at home building
supply stores. In this case, you can have it delivered and set up to accommodate 10 to
12 chickens, 5 or 6 ducks, 2 or 3 geese or turkeys, or 15 to 20 bantams.
These sheds are usually 6 feet by 8 feet (1.8 × 2.5 m), or close to that size. They
are usually not insulated but will provide adequate cover for your birds in winter rain
or snow. Dog kennels with a tarp for rain protection may be all that is needed in warm
climates such as southern California, Florida, and Hawaii.
