Another “how to reduce coop smell organically” question.

[Audie_and_Mike]

We have 11 birds in their 8x10 coop/shed. Due to a family emergency we have yet to complete the construction on our run (18’x18’), so all the ladies and their dashing young gent are confined in their coop. Every day I go out (if it’s warm enough) and open the main door so they can get a good fresh breeze. You’d have to see our coop…

Anyway, we’re deep-bedding so that we can add it to compost when ready.

There is little ammonia smell but, you know, an ounce of prevention.

Our jury is out on Zeolite. Our youngest son is gluten-free so we’re a bit hesitant to use a flour+baking soda mix.

We’ve Googled until we’re ready to gulp Excedrin, so we came here.

Any quick simple answer?

 

[Audie_and_Mike]

Oh, we’ve thought of stirring new pine shavings in but we’re new at this… we do realize that this may work but primarily I’m a bit concerned that they’re in the coop all day until we complete their run.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

How much ventilation do you have when the doors are closed?
How old and how big are your birds?
(Standard, bantam, young, adult )
What is your general location and climate?
Pictures of your coop may help you get better advice.
There is no harm in adding more pine shavings and stirring the mix.

My best advice is to have more ventilation than you need 365/24/7.

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC.

The space sounds reasonable for the size of the flock, but how much ventilation do you have? And where is that ventilation located? Please show us photos both inside and out.

It's recommended to have a minimum of 1 square foot per adult, standard-sized hen -- best located above the birds' head when they're sitting on their roost. Heat and ammonia both rise.

This diagram is from an article on cattle barns, but the airflow principles hold for any animal facility:

Also, where, in general, are you? Climate matters, especially when it comes to housing.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Also, consider using poop boards under the roosts with sand and sweet PDZ and a deep bedding method until you get your run set up. I linked a couple of articles below that I found the most helpful to me. (I regularly stalked @aart and @3KillerBs articles when designing my coop/run).

@aart has a fantastic write up on poop boards on his coop page:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-coop-page.65912/

@3KillerBs has an excellent article on deep vs deep bedding.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/using-deep-bedding-in-a-small-coop.76343/​

 

[aart]

How much ventilation do you have when the doors are closed?
How old and how big are your birds?
(Standard, bantam, young, adult )
What is your general location and climate?
Pictures of your coop may help you get better advice.
There is no harm in adding more pine shavings and stirring the mix.

My best advice is to have more ventilation than you need 365/24/7.

All great and important questions and requests.

 

[Audie_and_Mike]

Ahh! Yeah, we might be busted here lol. Okay, so:

• Location: near to middle of Middle Tennessee

• Growing Zone: 7a

• Birds: 11 total, ~8 weeks old, 5 Easter Eggers, 4 LavOrp hens, 1 LavOrp Roo

• Coop: it’s actually closer to 5’x10’ inside

• Ventilation: is on my to-do.

I bought a 4” hole bit. I plan on drilling two twin holes on north side of coop and another twin set on south side. Will place holes up high and cover with 1/4 hardware cloth, inside and out. So yes, it probably needs a tad more ventilation; thanks Audie and I stood in the coop with the door closed to test for drafts/ventilation. There was some, but I read up and figured we could use a bit more. New vents will be a few feet above roosting bars. Unless you guys change my mind — I’m open. Things have cooled off with unexpected family matters, so I should be able to add these vents this week (pending on advice after I post pictures).

• Pictures: Absolutely. Let me get them tomorrow when we have sunlight ;-)

Thank you for your patience and answers. I know these repeated topics are nerve wracking.

/cheers

 

[DobieLover]

it probably needs a tad more ventilation

I think you have a typo above. TON not tad.

This is what ventilation under the soffits, at the gable (and through the ridge) looks like when you have lots of ventilation in shed to coop conversion in a colder climate.

A few 4" holes aren't going to do nearly enough to provide adequate ventilation.
Awaiting the pictures...

 

[ChickNanny13]

TN does get humid ... More ventilation for sure, as you have planned and poop board with PDZ (https://sweetpdz.com) I think is Zeolite. DLM (deep litter method) is great, I use pine shavings & pick up the big stuff daily, had a poop board with PDZ.

Waiting for your pictures.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I think you have a typo above. TON not tad.

This is what ventilation under the soffits, at the gable (and through the ridge) looks like when you have lots of ventilation in shed to coop conversion in a colder climate.
View attachment 2993090

A few 4" holes aren't going to do nearly enough to provide adequate ventilation.
Awaiting the pictures...

LOVE your set up