bedding composting

[veggiecanner]

I thought I would make the coop smell beter and I put 1/2 bail of old hay on the floor. now it's composting and making alot of amonia smell.
I cleaned to the floor this spring and it wasn't bad till it got hot here. Now what do I do? Any thing I mix in to stop this? Lime?

 

[Maurana]

From what I'm seeing of others sharing their experiences, you'd be better off using coarse construction sand as your bedding/litter for both indoors and outdoors. It's basically like using cat litter and you can scoop/rake it all out with a close tined rake, and it drains well so you don't have to worry about things composting or molding which risks your chickens getting sick.
I've also read where some chicken owners use fresh grass clippings to sweeten the smell inside their coops/nest boxes and change that out once a week at least (I think...) Good luck!

 

[nom-chick]

stall dry

 

[Mtn Laurel]

It's the chicken poo that is giving off the ammonia smell. The heat and rain makes it worse. Wouldn't recommend lime as some types can be caustic should they get wet and could burn your chickens feet.

I'd remove a portion of the litter and replace it with pine shavings. Keep adding pine shavings and have the chickens mix it up every so often by throwing in some sunflower seeds. I don't add green grass as the girls will eat it which isn't bad unless it's those long, coarse blades of grass. I do add leaves in the autumn and will bag them up to add to the coop during the winter. I use the deep litter method in my coop, there's a good bit of info on it at BYC.

Ventilation is also important, especially in the heat. Make sure there's enough ventilation for any ammonia odor to escape. Good Luck!

 

[veggiecanner]

I had the front door open and a fan in there.
Went out last night and removed all the hay. Just about passed out myself.
Never use hay for bedding with chickens. I was much better off with the dirt floor I had.
The chickens like hay to eat, but only in tiny amounts. I will also be removing left over weeds and grass from them eating every day.
I am surprised I have any chickens left.
I may add some sand, but in smalll amounts.
Never believe everything you read on the internet.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

You can't compost IN the coop
It requires too much moisture

 

[Foster's Freehold]

I have old hay down, use a pitchfork to "fluff" it up about once a week. Since I have a "safe house" crate for some itty ones under the roosts I have a cover over it that I just spill into the hay every morning and stir the droppings in. It is about six inches deep and even though it is a small coop that is fully occupied by 11 birds, there is still no smell. Like mtlaurl said, I toss some BOSS in about every other day so the girls stir it between my fluffings. With all the rain, on dry days I make sure to turn it over and mix well. When it seems to be very wet on the bottom, I toss in a couple more books of hay and stir. This keeps it from matting up, gives the amonia a chance to vent off and encourages the good buggies. Haven't had a smelly problem yet (knocking on wood as I watch more rain coming down).