Cocidioses

[shnapper20]

hi I had it bad the first couple of years treated the birds with coccivet. This saved a lot of the birds but a friend suggested I lime my soil, which I did. I have no sign of it for 8 yrs now(touch wood). I have river sand all over the floor of the aviary, this I raked away and spread lime in about a 6mm layer then replaced the sand. The sand is 75mm thick above the lime so the birds cant get to it. The lime is supposed to kill the bacteria in the soil and appears to work. john

[Craig52]

hi I had it bad the first couple of years treated the birds with coccivet. This saved a lot of the birds but a friend suggested I lime my soil, which I did. I have no sign of it for 8 yrs now(touch wood). I have river sand all over the floor of the aviary, this I raked away and spread lime in about a 6mm layer then replaced the sand. The sand is 75mm thick above the lime so the birds cant get to it. The lime is supposed to kill the bacteria in the soil and appears to work. john

Hi John,imo you have wasted your time.You should have spread it all over the floor and lightly raked it in,it won't hurt your birds.It actually just changes the Ph, sweetens the sand/soil and refreshes it so that 6mm layer under 75mm of sand is doing absolutely nothing.
The general idea is to keep your aviary floors as dry as possible and you shouldn't have problems with coccidia but in saying that a 6 monthly coccidia/worming treatment should keep it at bay. Cheers Craig

[shnapper20]

hi craig, the lime i used wasnt garden lime, I forget its name. However my mate said during the warmer months when the moisture level lowers back down through the soil so does the bacteria and is killed. I dont know if this is the case but like I said it appeared to work. I have spoken to other bird breeders and they too have heard the same.

[Craig52]

hi craig, the lime i used wasnt garden lime, I forget its name. However my mate said during the warmer months when the moisture level lowers back down through the soil so does the bacteria and is killed. I dont know if this is the case but like I said it appeared to work. I have spoken to other bird breeders and they too have heard the same.

No worries,but i have never heard of that before now and if it works that's good. Cheers Craig

[gomer]

I would think lime is lime ? I use hydrated Lime in my holding aviaries from the hardware store.The type that is mixed in with mortar for brickies. This is sprinkled under perches to kill any nasties in the feces.

[VR1Ton]

Hydrated lime & Ag lime are very different in their chemical properties, they are used to change the pH level of the soil, making the environment less favourable for microorganisms/spores etc. living there. Hydrated lime is much stronger than Ag lime & less is needed. I have used it since day dot, & the old man used it at least since the '60's. Is also supposed to lessen the viability of worm eggs.

[BluJay]

Yaaaaay to the lime users. Not only does it change the PH of the soil. Line asist in breaking down waste products and reducing smell. On top of assisting to dry the earth. Great flea controller also.
Too many times, I've been to others aviaries, both suspended and walk in. They look good, but when you get up on them they have a leach bed gone wrong odor. From all the waste being hosed in. Regards.

PS: would'nt hurt to spray diluted bleach on the ground also.

[Craig52]

Hydrated lime & Ag lime are very different in their chemical properties, they are used to change the pH level of the soil, making the environment less favourable for microorganisms/spores etc. living there. Hydrated lime is much stronger than Ag lime & less is needed. I have used it since day dot, & the old man used it at least since the '60's. Is also supposed to lessen the viability of worm eggs.

That's fine guys but how did you apply it,i still don't believe that a thin layer under 75mm of sand is doing anything. Craig

[gomer]

Hydrated lime & Ag lime are very different in their chemical properties, they are used to change the pH level of the soil, making the environment less favourable for microorganisms/spores etc. living there. Hydrated lime is much stronger than Ag lime & less is needed. I have used it since day dot, & the old man used it at least since the '60's. Is also supposed to lessen the viability of worm eggs.

That's fine guys but how did you apply it,i still don't believe that a thin layer under 75mm of sand is doing anything. Craig

Mine is on top of the concrete very thin only under where the feces drop. every few years I may give the whole aviary a sprinkle on top all over and rake it. I dont think 75 mm underneath would be very beneficial also.

[VR1Ton]

All dirt floors, just throw it on & dig it in.