[Jacinta]

I have a fixed run of 12'x6' and three hens that are in there full time.  I don't intend to get more hens, but i was wondering how to manage disease build up in the soil.  I don't have room to expand and i can't let them free range, two ponds, 4 veg beds, 2 very interested cats and foxes near by plus a full time job.  I pick the bulk of the poo up daily and will dig it over periodically.  Is this enough?  There are so many opinions i've read.  Thanks.

[Aidy]

Be prepred to put some graft in 
First make sure you have easy access, in other words make sure you can move about easily.

What I do is to cover the run floor with straw, once a week I will rake up and compost the straw, on a fortnightly rota I will sprinkle Stalosan F across the ground and turn it over, walk over the ground to compact it a little and spread fresh straw on top.

My run is covered, and I would reccomend that you cover yours if not, in winter it can get very messy if the ground is wet through.

[Jacinta]

Mine is covered with Perspex I nicked from work and has tri-wall along the whole back stretch, keeps the Wind from whistling through. I'll track down some of that solution. Will they just happily scratch in the soil through the straw?

[Jacinta]

Is bio dry a similar product to stalosan f? 

[Aidy]

Reading the description I would say not but others may correct me.

According to my suppliers site StalosanF is broad spectrum, destroys worm eggs, coccidial oocysts, fly eggs and larvae. Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral. Highly absorbent and will help to reduce the ammonia smell created by the chicken's droppings.

Where as Bio-Dri is more of a sanitiser.

As regards scratching, yep nowt stops mine trying to tunnel their way out 

[Jacinta]

Nice one, cheers for that.  Where do you buy yours from n i'll get some ordered?