Bantams stink worse than large fowl chickens?

[JessicaThistle]

Have you tried fermented feed? It cuts way down on the wasted feed, which can be smelly if it gets in the bottom of the brooder and then gets wet. It also "strengthens" the poultry's gut, giving them lots of good beneficial bacteria to help with their digestion, and it also makes the gut lining proliferate with more villi to absorb nutrients better. Chickens on fermented feed have more solid poops, drink less, and have much less odor to their feces. There are lots of fermented feed threads to help you get started.

Because the 8 and then these 4 are my first run, I have not tried the fermented feed yet. I must have read 850 pages of thread on it though and it is something that I will consider in the future. At this time, I am still trying to learn and think I may learn better if I have something to compare to. At this point, my 8 big girls have been on Nutrena Naturewise Starter and I have never noticed a stink at all. They moved to the coop at 5 weeks and I have done my version of a deep litter method and free ranging for about 3 hours every evening. They are super happy and not a stink to be found.

I kinda had similar situation myself. I got 6 lil silkies & I noticed no odor at all until about 2 hours after I had them home in the transition cage aka big tote while finishing our coop. They were 1/3 the size of my 6 red sex links & jus smelled awful!! So I was really concerned examining poop etc. I had given them medicated food which is what I had on hand & that's not what they were on before so I thought mayb could be that ,but sounds like your guys weren't on medicated yet. Anyway I decided check them over & found lice

..well I'm a chicken newbie so I have no idea if this can contribute to the weird smell or not all I kno is I dusted them and day after no more to very lil odor. by 2nd dusting (week later) no smell at all . Good luck!

I'm glad that I am not alone! I briefly looked for bugs but I will look closer to be safe. I don't really know why lice or mites would contribute to a smell but it is interesting. Maybe someone more experienced can weight in.

Anyway, I moved them out to the garage yesterday. I haul them out to the grass during the day and take them in at night. I am not noticing the smell anymore while outside. Probably just the ventilation factor. Their poops are normal and they are super happy out there munching on grass, dirt and chasing bugs. I am going to put them on medicated food for a bit to help their immune systems since they are on dirt now. I also added ACV to their water. I don't suspect they are sick but I will be monitoring endlessly to make sure they are okay! I looked for Corid today at the feed store and didn't find it. I will definitely pick some up just for piece of mind.

 

[The Hustons]

It's very interesting! I never notice an odor now but they are outside so like ya said mayb it's better ventilation at hand. I jus remember thinking how could such tiny creatures be so stinky

!! And read else where there must be an issue or illness for there to be a smell but just like yours they are happy peppy lil peepers and are all still doing well! If you ever find out what causes that horrific smell ya gotta fill me in !

 

[Going Quackers]

How bizarre. I have those breeds here and have raised larger fowl, not noticed a difference at all, if anything the banties are easier to keep clean!

 

[The Hustons]

I don't notice a smell anymore ! Thank heavens it had me truly concerned. When I did a search on here I kept seeing ppl say odor wasn't normal & was likely an illness or such so that's how I discovered the creepy crawlers on them..but like I said idk that contributed..jus glad it went away & they are all still alive & well!! The lil guys are def much much easier care for than my RSL..give me silkies all day compared to those guys! We refer to silkies as mine & RSL as my hubby's

!

 

[Chilali]

Glad to hear you've found the problem with your babies. I'll definitely keep that in mind for future knowledge. I've yet to have an issue with any crawlies on my fowl, but I have a feeling it's kind of an inevitable thing for most people at some point in the course of keeping poultry.

 

[The Hustons]

Yea I was so freaked out about anything like that happening ..glad I got that outta the way right off the bat lol!!! Wasn't as big a deal as I thought it would be !