Barred rock chicks smell

[ginamvn]

We raise Barred Rock hens, and this is our second batch of chicks that are being kept in the house for the 1st week. After the 1st week I was overpowered by the smell, and they were moved to the garage (with their heat lamp, in an brooder). This time the smell is immediately noticed by me (but not husband and 2 teens). Maybe I'm more sensitive, and I don't want to take them to the garage yet, but I need help!! I know I can't diffuse oils, which could be lethal, but I can't take the smell. My eyes are watering!! Anyone have any ideas??

 

[featheredplanets]

How often are you cleaning them out and what substrate? They should not smell that bad, and ammonia is terrible for them. And how big is your brooder with how many chicks? A pic of your setup may help.

 

[ginamvn]

Brooder is large, currently only 3 chicks, see pic below. I would never use ammonia! They've only been in there a couple of hours. LOL In the past, we just change newspaper & use a homemade cleaner when needed, but this is a brand new brooder (made it this week, just days before the hatch). I know I'm more sensitive to the smell than everyone else, because they don't smell anything!! I don't know how to keep myself from smelling it. Just wondering if anyone else experienced this & what did they do?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We raise Barred Rock hens, and this is our second batch of chicks that are being kept in the house for the 1st week. After the 1st week I was overpowered by the smell, and they were moved to the garage (with their heat lamp, in an brooder). This time the smell is immediately noticed by me (but not husband and 2 teens). Maybe I'm more sensitive, and I don't want to take them to the garage yet, but I need help!! I know I can't diffuse oils, which could be lethal, but I can't take the smell. My eyes are watering!! Anyone have any ideas??

Brooder is large, currently only 3 chicks, see pic below. I would never use ammonia! They've only been in there a couple of hours. LOL In the past, we just change newspaper & use a homemade cleaner when needed, but this is a brand new brooder (made it this week, just days before the hatch). I know I'm more sensitive to the smell than everyone else, because they don't smell anything!! I don't know how to keep myself from smelling it. Just wondering if anyone else experienced this & what did they do?

Let's look at a few things - compare to the last time you had chicks.
Your eyes are watering. You have a new brooder - what's it made of?
Did you use newspaper last time or something like puppy pads?
Homemade cleaner? What are you using, have you used that before?
Feed - using the same brand as before?
Heat lamp - same bulb as before?

The mention of ammonia was not the cleaner, it was that poop gives off ammonia which can be an irritation to the nose/eyes and is offensive.

Personally, I don't use newspaper in an inside brooder. Puppy pads work better, they are more absorbent and seem to keep odors down. I change out puppy pads daily in the first day or two, then may need to change certain areas out 2-3 times a day depending on "poop load"
Again, personally, I don't clean the brooder with anything. Changing out pads and bedding is all I do. I keep water station(s) and feed dishes cleaned daily.

Some feeds can have a smell especially when wet. Is there any wet areas where feed may have gotten wet, water station leaked and wet the wood, etc.?

The wood you are using - what type is it? Pine, cedar, etc. treated or untreated? Certain woods can give off some odor especially if heated (like under a lamp) or when wet.

Most of the time I try to get chicks outdoors within the first week or so after hatch. The bigger they are the more they eat, the more they poop and the more they get stinky.

 

[ginamvn]

TY for the puppy pad idea; I will try it. We do get them out after a week, so it is a temporary problem. I will consider the wood as an issue with my eyes watering. I'll test the theory when they get outside so that we'll know for next time. I haven't used a cleaner in the brooder yet; I have one if needed, but have never needed it. The lamp, bulb, and newspp are the same as last time, so again the wood stands out. I misread what you wrote about ammonia. Thanks for all your great ideas. I think that the puppy pads are my best option for today. I appreciate your help <3

 

[swamphiker]

Is the feed could be wet or even just a little bit damp? I find that it STINKS even with just a bit of moisture.

 

[ginamvn]

Nope, but good thought. Thank you!

 

[ginamvn]

Let's look at a few things - compare to the last time you had chicks.
Your eyes are watering. You have a new brooder - what's it made of?
Did you use newspaper last time or something like puppy pads?
Homemade cleaner? What are you using, have you used that before?
Feed - using the same brand as before?
Heat lamp - same bulb as before?

The mention of ammonia was not the cleaner, it was that poop gives off ammonia which can be an irritation to the nose/eyes and is offensive.

Personally, I don't use newspaper in an inside brooder. Puppy pads work better, they are more absorbent and seem to keep odors down. I change out puppy pads daily in the first day or two, then may need to change certain areas out 2-3 times a day depending on "poop load"
Again, personally, I don't clean the brooder with anything. Changing out pads and bedding is all I do. I keep water station(s) and feed dishes cleaned daily.

Some feeds can have a smell especially when wet. Is there any wet areas where feed may have gotten wet, water station leaked and wet the wood, etc.?

The wood you are using - what type is it? Pine, cedar, etc. treated or untreated? Certain woods can give off some odor especially if heated (like under a lamp) or when wet.

Most of the time I try to get chicks outdoors within the first week or so after hatch. The bigger they are the more they eat, the more they poop and the more they get stinky.

Hey, just wanted to follow up: the puppy pads REALLY helped!! Thanks so much.