Hygiene in the chicken coop is at a high level.
In my hobby Orpington breeding operation, I tried out the various zeolite products from Steinkraft last year to maintain the highest possible level of hygiene in the stable and to prevent parasites.
I was impressed by the following two products, even though they actually come from the horse and cat product range.
In the large barn with the adult chickens, I really like the Horsekraft bedding with zeolite.
When I muck out the stall, I first spread a layer of Horsekraft bedding over the entire floor, making sure to get it well along the edges. I also dust all the perches, like poles, etc., with it. Then I add my usual bedding of softwood granules and shavings on top.
I muck out the stall daily and, depending on the need, sprinkle some Horsekraft bedding on top, as it dries wet droppings really well and neutralizes the odor. It contains lime, zeolite, and organic lavender. This disinfects effectively and binds water and pollutants.
In the small coop where I raise the chicks, I follow the same procedure, but I use CATKRAFT Smell Well. It's coarser and less dusty. Normally, I use it in the litter box to bind ammonia and other pollutants. I find it ideal for the little ones.
Both products bring a refreshing scent to the stable thanks to the addition of lavender. Mites and other pests dislike it intensely.
Zeolite as a good basis for the laying nests
My laying nests are also equipped with a thick layer of zeolite on the bottom and then straw/hay on top.
In case of parasite infestation, the chickens can also be dusted directly with zeolite powder – but leave out the head.
My flock of chickens is happy, I'm happy!
How I got into chickens...
The topic of chickens came up repeatedly over the years, but the implementation always failed in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
I've always had a soft spot for the heavier breeds. My favorites have always been the large, cube-shaped Orpingtons in all their beautiful color variations.
In 2020, the time had finally come. All planned events and holidays were cancelled due to Covid-19, leaving us with plenty of time at home to tackle dormant projects.
So I spent weeks researching and reading about incubation, housing requirements, and chicken keeping.
In June the time had come, and 30 hatching eggs – 20 from blue and 10 from silver-black Orpingtons, which I had received from Germany by post – went into the incubator for 21 days.
Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, these eggs took far too long to arrive, and only 7 chicks hatched from the 30 eggs – 3 blue, 2 black, and 2 splash. Sadly, none of the silver-black chicks survived.
As it turned out after just a few weeks, there were 4 roosters and 3 hens.
Watching these fluffy little balls grow was wonderful, one of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced in my life, and with each passing day the Orpingtons captivated me more and more.
Of course, I couldn't keep all the male birds, so I advertised them for new, suitable homes. Two of them found lovely new homes very quickly. To my great surprise, however, I received many inquiries for hens in response to these ads. This resulted in a waiting list for spring 2021.
At the same time, I had a lively exchange with an experienced Orpington breeder who provided me with advice and practical help. I myself had the feeling that I had extremely beautiful, strong and well-developed chicks, and he confirmed this as they grew up.
My small hobby chicken breeding operation
With 1 beautiful blue rooster and 3 matching hens, I have a good breeding stock and have therefore decided to start a small hobby breeding operation of large blue Orpingtons.
The motto, however, is quite clear: with joy and fun – quality over quantity.
My goal is not to hatch chicks en masse and then sell them off to just anyone. I want beautiful, healthy animals that will only be placed in suitable homes. This also means that the new owners have researched the breed and understand that everything will be a bit bigger and different than usual.
Orpingtons mainly move around on the ground and usually use low perches, if any at all.
My Orpingtons still all sleep on the floor, even though I offer them perches. For this reason, a fairly large floor area is necessary in the coop – ideally, one should allow 1 square meter of floor space for each large Orpington.
Chicken bedding and feed
My credo is a well-maintained and clean stable as well as high-quality feed.
In the stable I use hemp bedding in combination with zeolite and lavender oil from Steinkraft.
I clean the stall 2-3 times a day and have had good experiences with this so far.
This works very well in hobby farming with a small flock of chickens. Of course, different standards apply when keeping more animals.
In terms of feed, a healthy and varied diet is important to me. Choosing the right feed is absolutely essential for healthy chickens. Table scraps are not healthy chicken feed! Of course, the amount of space the chickens have to roam and their daily exercise also plays a crucial role in choosing the right feed.
I also give them zeolite pellets to peck at. These 4 mm pellets are originally intended for horses, but we find Siel's enrichment material quite ideal for our chickens. Zeolite binds toxins in the intestines in a completely natural, physical way. Therefore, the pellets support the animals' detoxification process and also supply them with silicon, calcium, and many trace elements. The pellets are pure zeolite pellets, without binders or sugar!
What are the major hygiene risks in a chicken coop?
Mites are the worst problem and are introduced by other birds (e.g., sparrows). Therefore, the coop must be checked for mites daily.
And the worse the mucking out, the greater the risk of parasites and diseases.
I simply don't like the smell of chicken droppings. I often walk through the chicken coop, partly because I enjoy being around the animals. I want to be able to breathe easily and not be bothered by the ammonia-laden smell of their droppings.
Zeolite binds ammonia in the chicken coop
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