Odor Control for dirt run

[sillycmoy]

So I have had 5 chicks (8 weeks old now) outside in a 8 ft by 10 ft dirt run with the coop, and the last 2 days its been raining like crazy, and they are starting to smell. What can I use in the dirt run. They have the full 8 by 10 and can even go under the coop. I just got their fencing done for free ranging, so they are able to start going out during the day, but with all this rain it does have an odor. The coop doesn't smell, its the dirt run. I clean the coop out every week and replace with fresh new shavings. I did get some Oxine, but I need to learn how to mix it for cleaning, and I hope that will help. The coop isn't the problem, its the wet dirt in the run. I did try to rake it up to shovel up the poops, but that didn't work.

So what's the best thing to put down in the run to help with odor control. Thanks

 

[enola]

You do not have the litter DEEP enough. When you get the litter deep enough, the water will be on the bottom of the layers. Deep layers of some kind of materials composting is what will keep the smell down.

Bee and I are talking 12 inches deep. From what I can see in your picture your have enough chips on the ground to barely cover it.

Between Bee and I, we have nearly 100 years of chicken keeping experience under our belts. We know how to keep chickens from stinking. Deep litter is your answer to the problem.

 

[Judy]

I would try some pelletized lime first. You may want to put sides down and keep sand in the run as a long term wa of dealing with the area. Mostly the run needs to be well drained so it dries after a rain.

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

 

[sillycmoy]

Do use some Sweet PDZ in the coop, maybe I will through some out in the run too.

Thanks

 

[Leigti]

You said you are using pine shavings in the coop right? When you clean that out put it in the run. Put 2x 12 boards along the bottom so it can build up in the chickens don't kick everything out. That seems to be a special talent they have. Check out the deep litter method in the learning center section.

 

[jak2002003]

So I have had 5 chicks (8 weeks old now) outside in a 8 ft by 10 ft dirt run with the coop, and the last 2 days its been raining like crazy, and they are starting to smell. What can I use in the dirt run. They have the full 8 by 10 and can even go under the coop. I just got their fencing done for free ranging, so they are able to start going out during the day, but with all this rain it does have an odor. The coop doesn't smell, its the dirt run. I clean the coop out every week and replace with fresh new shavings. I did get some Oxine, but I need to learn how to mix it for cleaning, and I hope that will help. The coop isn't the problem, its the wet dirt in the run. I did try to rake it up to shovel up the poops, but that didn't work.

So what's the best thing to put down in the run to help with odor control. Thanks

I don't know what to suggest........when it dried out the smell will go away.

I recommend you cover you run to keep the rain out........if it stays dry there will be very little smell.

 

[Alaskan]

Lime is really great.... It can turn a smelly outhouse into not so bad at all, so I am sure it would work well in a run.

 

[cywiar merch]

You have to be careful which lime you put down as some lime will burn chicken'sbfeet. Can't remember which on eit is though.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

I was of the impression that wet lime could be caustic and may burn their feet. I have six 8-week old chicks in a small run and have it covered to keep out as much rain as possible. Even put sandbags around the base of the run to prevent water from running into the coop during a hard rain. It's stayed dry and they've beaten it down to bare earth. I'm going to add some pine shavings to give them something to scratch around in and to absorb their ever increasing and getting bigger by the day "output".

 

[sillycmoy]

I've heard not to use the lime. I was thinking of maybe throwing straw in there. I haven't had any problems till it got really wet. We had about 2 inches of rain in the last 2 days. Its under our deck, so I would have to tarp off that section of the deck. We were actually thinking of doing that just for the winter since we get tons and tons of snow. We usually don't get that much rain like that. And the last few times it did rain, it hardly got that wet in there. It doesn't smell much today since its drying out.

Thanks