A aroma which overpowered the chooks poo

nevit · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2008 1:33 pm

I have my chickens in a run which is covered in dirt, straw, cane mulch, they get to free range on the lawn when I am out there with them but the bulk of the day they frolic in their enclosure.

The smell wasn't too bad, but during really hot days you can get a whiff down wind from it, I walked into my produce shop today and caught a hint of a smell there which I haven't noticed before, it was bales of Tea Tree mulch, so off I when with a bale to try, Noon all you can smell is the mulch, sweet tea aroma all around the yard, not even a hint of the poo. I only sprinkled it around the run so it doesn't really cover anything, but when the sun hits it the aroma is released, sensational.

Though I might share this with everyone as I know the less smell the less chance of complaints from neighbors, I'm only on a small suburban block so I try to ensure all is good, sometimes we get blind to certain smells because we are around it all the time.

Will be getting myself a few extra bales to do my garden now.

PS, got to give my local produce shop a plug, Rochedale Produce, tops. :lol:

Lou · **Joined:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:12 am **Posts:** 387

Nevit this stuff sounds great, can you give some more name details & who makes it so I can track it down. I know fleas don't like tea tree so it would be interesting to see if the other creepy crawlies don't like it as well

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 27, 2008 10:19 am

Hi nevit - it's great stuff. We have used it on our gardens and in the chook house for a while - your post has reminded me to get some more!

Deb

nevit · **Posted:** Mon Oct 27, 2008 11:50 am

Hey Lou,
The brand I bought was "Rocky Point", It cost 11 dollars a bail from memory, am testing it with my corn crop and grapes as well, should be able to track it down at your local landscape suppliers, or I think some bunnings sell it to maybe just a different brand and a bit dearer. I think everyone should at least have a look at it cause I wish I discovered it when I first started about 10yrs ago. :lol:

chooky05 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2008 5:35 pm

also for smell , u can buy citronella gerainams , ive read that geraniams (forgive the spelling) keep snakes away while the citronella also keep mosiqitos away (no mozzie bites , no fowl pox) it also keeps a nice aroma in the air , they arnt an ugly plant either ,

cheers
chook

nevit · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2008 7:32 pm

Hi chooky05,

I think you will find it is the citronella grass which has the properties you are speaking of, the geranium has the fragrance but not the properties, I have the geraniums in full blossom at the moment and also sprouting some grass seeds. Until the grass seed go wild, I use citronella oil to try to keep the mossies under control.

Bourke · **Posted:** Sat Nov 08, 2008 6:06 pm

Will have to check that out mate.

Bourke

Jedcluckett · **Joined:** Sat Sep 20, 2008 8:43 pm **Posts:** 25

Get yourself one of those compost bins. Shovel your litter from the chook pen into the bin, and then, cover it with a layer of plain old soil a few centimetres thick. Now get your new fresh litter of wood chips or straw, and start a new covering in the chook pen.

When the compost bin has done its job in about six weeks, you can use the compost in your garden or put a few shovelfuls in with the chooks now and then.

vickywall · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:35 pm

What a great idea!

I like rochedale produce too. The staff in there are lovely and really helped me out when I went in there a few months ago.

They're my closest produce store, either that or Brendale.
:cry:

I'm going to definitely plant some of those mentioned plants around my coop.

nevit · **Posted:** Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:26 pm

wow Vicky,

you travel all the way from Paddo, at least they are worth the trip, I give them a visit once a month as I don't like holding to much feed at a time, my next project with my girls, is to introduce banana plants into the run, and still having plenty of success with the tea tree mulch and poo smell, no complaints yet from neighbors so alls good.

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