First Saturday Lime became popular soon after its debut on Shark Tank. With over 1.6 million TikTok views, this eco-friendly insect repellent became a favorite for its versatility, especially among backyard chicken owners to control mites and dangerous pests.
Farmers have used lime for centuries, and while it has been effective for deodorizing and treating animal waste and sweetening acidic soil in fields, this barn lime has a new twist. First Saturday Lime takes agricultural lime to the next level with a non-caustic, insoluble formula that acts as an insect barrier and repellent.
Whether you’re an animal lover, beekeeper, vegetable gardener, organic hobby farmer or simply want to keep your chicken coop clean, using this product keeps bugs and smells under control. We took a look into the ways customers found First Saturday Lime useful on their property.
What is First Saturday Lime?
First Saturday Lime is a monthly insect repellent that’s safe to use around pets and people. This natural product keeps fleas, ticks, ants, aphids and mites out of gardens, chicken coops and lawns. The strong desiccant effectively clears your property of exoskeleton insects by drying and smothering insect eggs and larvae that can affect the health of your chickens, horses and pets. First Saturday Lime also prevents algae and mosquito growth in water sources, such as ponds, bird baths and water troughs. You can also add this multi-purpose product to litter boxes to control odor, sprinkle it in the garden to exterminate aphids, snails and slugs and treat lawns and perimeters to dry up bugs fast.
Unlike traditional barn lime (ground limestone) or hydrated lime, the First Saturday Lime formula is non-caustic, so handling isn’t a problem for humans—or animals. It’s also insoluble, meaning if it gets wet, it remains effective once it dries. Compared to chemical pesticides, First Saturday Lime is a natural product that’s safe for the environment.
When comparing diatomaceous earth (DE) to First Saturday Lime, the crystalline silica in DE is not recommended for use around chickens because of their sensitive respiratory systems. Although DE might be a great dust to rid pests from plants, First Saturday Lime is a safer bet for general use.
Pros
- Easy-to-apply granules
- Eco-friendly natural pest control
- Controls algae growth
- Freshens and deodorizes animal pens
- Use as garden insect dust
- Neutralizes urine damage to lawns
- Safe to use on animal bedding
- Chickens love a First Saturday Lime dust bath
- Insoluble formula works after a rain
- Scent-free
- Safe to pets
Cons
- Pricey
- Monthly applications
How to Use First Saturday Lime
Consider using the first Saturday of each month as treatment day (it’s in the name, after all). Use it with a yard spreader for lawns or sprinkle it as a perimeter treatment around buildings, gardens, pools or animal pens to eliminate bugs. A 20-pound bag of First Saturday Lime treats the perimeter of a 2,000-square-foot home or 1-pound per 20 square feet.
Be sure to follow package instructions when using on turf, as the lime will alter the pH of the soil. However, when pet urine damages lawns, a thin layer of First Saturday Lime is an effective treatment to balance soil pH and restore turf. When it’s used in dog kennels and horse stables, odors are reduced, moisture is controlled and insects stop in their tracks.
Chicken owners treat coops and runs with First Saturday Lime to clean, deodorize and provide their flock with a dust bath. A 1/8-inch dusting keeps hens happy, and a sprinkle in their bedding keeps it fresh and bug-free. While using vinegar to clean a coop works, it won’t deter insect infestations.
If you have water sources, you’ll want First Saturday Lime to eliminate algae growth in watering bowls, ponds or troughs. Don’t spend Saturdays scrubbing moss—just add a thin layer of First Saturday Lime to the clean water. Rest assured, it’s safe even if ingested in small amounts—after all, it’s a natural source of calcium for your critters.
For sweetening acidic soil, First Saturday Lime helps balance pH levels. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) soil quality technical note No. 8, “Soil pH is an excellent chemical indicator of soil quality. Farmers can improve the soil quality of acid soils by liming to adjust pH to the levels needed by the crop to be grown. Benefits of liming include increased nutrient availability, improved soil structure and increased rates of infiltration.” We recommend getting a soil test kit first.
The Best Amazon User Reviews
With an average of 4.7 out of five stars from over 4,600 ratings, customers share how they use First Saturday Lime around their properties and why they love it.
“We keep this around to get rid of fleas as well as ants,” writes five-star reviewer, Laura Mitchell. “We had ants crawling up the sides of our above-ground pool and put a line around the outside of the pool. No more ants! We have also put it around the patio for the same reason. I highly recommend it!”
“This stuff is the silent killer of creatures. You don’t realize it’s working until you notice that you’re not talking about the bugs in your yard. We use this everywhere: our garden, chicken coop, grass and around the pool. Love this stuff!!!” shares Joseph S, another five-star reviewer.
Kimberly Mejia, a verified purchaser, says, “Great size bag for my yard. I have two big dogs and I use this to freshen up the yard and as repellent. [It] works great! It’s a must-have in our family.”
Where to Buy First Saturday Lime
Lime is an essential part of farm life, and First Saturday Lime takes basic barn lime to a new level with its multiple uses, gentle ingredients and effective results. You can snag a 20-pound bag on Walmart or Amazon for around $32, or a 5-pound bag at Tractor Supply for $20.
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