Chicken Smells different between mmy two breeds

[CGR51]

We are new to this - but I have two heritage breeds, orpingtons and buckeyes. The orpingtons have very little if any body smell but the Buckeyes have a very strong body odor. Is this normal between different breeds? And could it be caused because of the different way they were fed? The buckeyes are new to us but I do know they were being fed trout pellets.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Trout pellets? like in fish food? or trout was in the chicken food they were eating?

It can be that they were fed differently or that they dust bathed in some smelly dirt. The smell should go away over time either way.

 

[CGR51]

Trout pellets as chicken feed supplement. And no I don't use it but some of the ones that are buying vegetarian organic feed are supplementing with the trout pellets for protein.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Learn something new every day. I had no idea that was even out there. I would think the smell is going to take a while to wear out of the systems then. It is true of dogs that if this one is fed a poor quality feed and that one is fed a high quality feed they will smell much different. I would imagine it is similar for hens.

Got two dogs several years back that were fed crappy food and oh man did they reek. It took months for it to go away.

Since they are new chickens to you be sure to keep an eye out for worms, mites, lice and the like.

 

[Teila]

Learn something new every day. I had no idea that was even out there.

Same here

 

[lovemy6hens]

I agree. It's the difference in feed and environment. When our 4 new girls arrived, they had a distinct smell. After a couple of weeks, it went away.

 

[CGR51]

Thanks everyone. That gives me hope. They have been vaccinated two weeks ago and Ivomec one week ago, so if we can get rid of the smell will be good pullets. They really do have nice personalities but I would not put up with the smell forever.
One more question - some of the hens we got are about 9 months old and laying. Where they came from did not have a box or nest for them and they just laid in corners of shed. So of course that is what they are doing here as the rest were using the nests before these came. Is that usually a permanent thing or is there something better than golf balls to try to get these ones to use the nests?

 

[21hens-incharge]

The fake eggs available work better in my opinion. I would either leave one egg in the nest box or put in a couple fake eggs so they have a visual on where laying is desired.

You can also place one nest box in the corners they are laying in to get them used to using a box to lay in then gradually move it closer to the actual preferred location. Eventually you should be able to remove the extra box entirely.