Can you use lime powder in your coop?

[PinkFlamingoFrm]

I have a coop in the back yard with a couple of my chickens and my favorite duck. Most are out at the farm. It was starting to smell pretty bad because of the rain, we tried to clean it, but it was so muddy that we couldnt. My fiance got some barn dry stuff and it dried up alot of the mud, but not all of it, so he added lime to the bottom of the pen. He was told it was completely safe to do. However, I went out yesterday & it looked like my favorite duck, Football, my khaki campbell, had rubbed his face in it, and his eyes were caked with the lime mess. He couldnt see anything, so I put him in the bathtub and left him wash his face as long as he wanted. He seemed to get alot of it off and was able to see again.
Was this a freak accident? or is lime always this dangerous? If so, what can you use on the bottom of your run so that it doesnt get muddy & stink? We put a tarp over the run when it is supposed to rain, but its not helping very much.

 

[sumi]

It depends on the type of lime you use. Slaked or hydrated lime is extremely caustic especially when wet. It is sometimes used to "sweeten" the soil in runs and to sanitise the soil and kill bacteria, but should be worked into the soil thoroughly and watered down well before letting the chickens/ducks onto it, or it could burn them. Agricultural lime, on the other hand is quite safe. It is often used to dry out damp spots and for preventing odours.

Sand is often used to help keep mud under control in wet climates:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/250190/anyone-use-sand-in-the-run-coop

And some more tips on how to deal with a muddy run here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-fix-a-muddy-run-chicken-coop

 

[PinkFlamingoFrm]

It depends on the type of lime you use. Slaked or hydrated lime is extremely caustic especially when wet. It is sometimes used to "sweeten" the soil in runs and to sanitise the soil and kill bacteria, but should be worked into the soil thoroughly and watered down well before letting the chickens/ducks onto it, or it could burn them. Agricultural lime, on the other hand is quite safe. It is often used to dry out damp spots and for preventing odours.

Sand is often used to help keep mud under control in wet climates:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/250190/anyone-use-sand-in-the-run-coop

And some more tips on how to deal with a muddy run here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-fix-a-muddy-run-chicken-coop

Thank you! Im pretty sure it was the agricultural stuff. He works at a feed mill & he asked his boss what to use & thats what he gave him. Its what his dad told us to use too, and hes been farming all his life. I cant imagine they would tell use to use the dangerous stuff. Ill read that article & hopefully find something a lil better to use. I cant let that happen to my lil ducky again