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Im looking at changing from woodshavings to deep litter sand with lime. What is the ratio of lime to sand? Is kiln dried the best? what are the prices for kiln dried sand and lime like? What depth should i be putting down?

Thanks

best be carefull with sand my m8 bought some had a lot of trouble when vet tests came back turned out   foxes and rats had been peeing on sand where it was stored before he bought it

I was thinking of obtaining sand from the builders merchants to try and eradicate this problem. We have some stored in the yard from building but its been there for a few years and its for that reason why im not using it as im not sure if anything has contaminated it.

i would only use bagged sand kiln dried as you never know what you end up with re birds

i used play sand u cant beat it no dust at all

what do you guys use on the loft floors? Im not impressed with shavings, they get everywhere, create dust and look dirty after a couple of days

I started with bagged sharp sand. It was always damp going onto the floor which I didn't like, and like others I started wondering what yard storage was like and what had been at it; I added agricultural lime. Can't say that I was ever totally satisfied with the result.

I've moved on quite a bit now, I still have 'deep' litter - its lucky if its an inch deep - but I haven't added sand or lime for years; I now add floor dressings, at least once per week, and on Saturdays I spend around 2 hours raking over and sifting all of it through a 1/4 inch sieve, the big stuff is bagged and binned. What is left on the floor is then raked back, and I then add Stalosan or Harker's Loft Treatment, about 3 shakers-full (I use a Harker's shaker for Stalosan too).

The same floor dressings go on the perches and nest box floors, and into and around the rims of the nest bowls too. The perches and nest boxes are cleaned daily, and that is bagged and binned daily.

1 sack of play sand then 1 bale of easy bedding

IB what deep litter do you use? Thanks

Quoted from joshdonlan

IB what deep litter do you use? Thanks

It is not something that you can buy in. I've developed it over 6 years. It feels like ash, reddish-grey in colour.

I use kiln sand mixed with loft teatment and I have never had any issues. Would not be without it.

We have grills through the main loft but took them out the stock loft and now have Hemcore down - its the best thing we have found on the market although if i was to use sand have to agree with Terry Mcarthy you wont go far wrong with childrens sand

beechbark chippings,the only problem is when its time to change,its murder to get rid off [i had 12 garden sacks ]then again i had it down for about 10/11 months and it needed changing

The only safe sand to use is the kiln dried stuff but it's not cheap.I used it for a couple of years and liked it but if it ever gets wet then it was hopeless to dry out and then someone told me it harboured coxi too so combined with that fact and a couple of gale force storms that drove the rain horrizontally into the loft thus having to shovel heavy wet sand out of the loft,then pay a fortune to replace it again that was the end of it!,I use easi bed now and it suits me though that isn't cheap either.

Quoted from chrissy

The only safe sand to use is the kiln dried stuff but it's not cheap.I used it for a couple of years and liked it but if it ever gets wet then it was hopeless to dry out and then someone told me it harboured coxi too so combined with that fact and a couple of gale force storms that drove the rain horrizontally into the loft thus having to shovel heavy wet sand out of the loft,then pay a fortune to replace it again that was the end of it!,I use easi bed now and it suits me though that isn't cheap either.

You'll not have to worry now Chrissy, Tammy used to be up at 5.30 every morning scraping his lofts

Quoted from DOVEScot

You'll not have to worry now Chrissy, Tammy used to be up at 5.30 every morning scraping his lofts

Well he isn't anymore

Quoted from chrissy

Well he isn't anymore

LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING  

thanks everyone i may consider an alternative.

Quoted from chrissy

Well he isn't anymore

Please explain !!!!!!!   further. Because ???????? what little treats etc, would Tammy be getting now   that he wasn't receiving before.
Enjoy.

true deep litter would over a number of years just be cork dry dropping on there own,