Barn Lime

posted 6 months ago

4
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

What is barn lime?

Other names for barn lime include dairy lime, ag lime, quarry lime, and garden lime.

Barn lime is made up of calcium carbonate (ground limestone). Barn lime is marketed as a desiccant, soil PH amendment (basic), odor reducer, and insect repellant. Barn lime does not have the caustic properties that hydrated lime has and should not be accidently mixed up. Barn lime is advertised as being animal friendly but has been known to be dusty so use proper precautions upon application. Lime applications can increase ammonia volatilization if bedding contains high levels of ammonia/nitrogen.

Uses

Soil Amendment (raise PH/source of calcium)

Desiccant

Antibacterial

Deodorizer (reduce ammonia smells in bedding/litter)

Safety Considerations
While calcium carbonate is not caustic, it is something you don't want to be breathing in. If you are spreading it, it is recommended that you look into particulate masks to be safe.

COMMENTS:

Timothy Norton

master gardener

Posts: 4799

Location: Upstate NY, Zone 5, 43 inch Avg. Rainfall

2027

I like...

posted 6 months ago

5
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Similar to zeolite, I purchased a bag of barn lime to give it a spin. Four dollars for 50lbs from the local ag store was a heck of a deal compared to other products. It also had quite a bit of availability on the shelf if I wanted to buy a large amount.

Barn lime is dusty, that was my first finding. When I applied it inside my chicken coop I used appropriate PPE for my breathing similar to if I was cleaning out the coop. I put it in corners and under perches in hopes to reduce the amount of moisture from rain events. I also am hoping to utilize it to deter any mites that might want to take residence nearby. I mixed it into the bedding and it settled just fine. I didn't experience any manure off gassing, a small worry I had if the lime interacted with the litter. It spread easily and was a mixture of dust and grit. Handling the bag by itself is a bit of a pain so utilizing a bucket might be preferred.

So far, no issues and it seems to work as intended.

- Tim's Homestead Journal - Purchase a copy of Building a Better World in Your Backyard - Purchase 6 Decks of Permaculture Cards -
- Purchase 12x Decks of Permaculture Cards - Purchase a copy of the SKIP Book - Purchase 12x copies of Building a Better World in your Backyard