Bedding for poop tray..

[rag1201]

I've been raising 3 quails in a 4sqft wired cage and have put in wood shavings as a bedding for the poop tray underneath the cage (Hoping this would absorb the smell). I usually clean the tray once in a week but the smell gets pretty nasty on day 5 onwards and attracts a lot of flies. The worst part is, I'm raising these indoors and really not keen on having flies inside the house..

I was thinking of changing the bedding in the poop tray to sand rather than wood shavings. Will sand help dry out the poop faster and control the smell and flies?

I also read somewhere that baking soda helps in reducing the smell, can someone confirm if this is true?

Also, I'm open to suggestions on any other ways of controlling the smell.

 

[AidKD]

Cleaning the coop about every 2 days(which is what I do) will most definately cut down on odour. The baking soda is worth a try but cleaning every couple of days will help the most.

 

[hew]

A couple handfuls of sand, then a layer of pine wood chips (or paper shreds not as effective though), sprayed down with diluted pine-sol. As time goes by re-spray with pine-sol and spray floor as well. Flies hate the smell of pine and effective odor control.

 

[rag1201]

A couple handfuls of sand, then a layer of pine wood chips (or paper shreds not as effective though), sprayed down with diluted pine-sol. As time goes by re-spray with pine-sol and spray floor as well. Flies hate the smell of pine and effective odor control.

Thanks.. Worth a try.

 

[NY Coturnix]

If you go with sand get one of those dollar store sand sifters. Usually will come with a shovel and a bucket like kids would use at the beach. I don't have indoor quail but this makes cleaning out my sand baths much easier.

 

[amk122284]

So this may be an unpopular opinion but I just switched from sweet pdz to cheap disposable plastic table cloth 300 foot roll for $14 it will last at least 2 months. Pull it off every morning and put clean up. It NEVER smells anymore in or around the coop. The sweet pdz made a mess I felt like and I didn't realize how much it still would stink even after sifting daily and adding a cup full to refresh.

 

[Doriss]

I've been raising 3 quails in a 4sqft wired cage and have put in wood shavings as a bedding for the poop tray underneath the cage (Hoping this would absorb the smell). I usually clean the tray once in a week but the smell gets pretty nasty on day 5 onwards and attracts a lot of flies. The worst part is, I'm raising these indoors and really not keen on having flies inside the house..

I was thinking of changing the bedding in the poop tray to sand rather than wood shavings. Will sand help dry out the poop faster and control the smell and flies?

I also read somewhere that baking soda helps in reducing the smell, can someone confirm if this is true?

Also, I'm open to suggestions on any other ways of controlling the smell.

Too many quail will make a smell. Cut your numbers.

 

[bhaugh]

Wire cages are good for outside but not in. Quail I have in the house after hatch and growing out I use wood pellets. Virtually no smell. Harder to change out but smell is a biggie for me so it's worth the hassle

 

[Doriss]

I've been raising 3 quails in a 4sqft wired cage and have put in wood shavings as a bedding for the poop tray underneath the cage (Hoping this would absorb the smell). I usually clean the tray once in a week but the smell gets pretty nasty on day 5 onwards and attracts a lot of flies. The worst part is, I'm raising these indoors and really not keen on having flies inside the house..

I was thinking of changing the bedding in the poop tray to sand rather than wood shavings. Will sand help dry out the poop faster and control the smell and flies?

I also read somewhere that baking soda helps in reducing the smell, can someone confirm if this is true?

Also, I'm open to suggestions on any other ways of controlling the smell.

 

[Doriss]

I should have thought a week was way too long between cleans. Two days at most.