Chicken yard smells... How do you keep it fresh? And New here

[Kevin D.]

I have a chicken run and coop in the city... yes I know right! Anyway, it is starting to smell a bit nasty, and I was wondering what you members used to keep the smell down. I only have 4 hens, and it is a fairly large run, but the only thing is it is not movable.

Thanks,

Kevin

 

[geese'n'chickenlovr]

What method do you use for litter maitnence? is it shallow litter, or deep litter method? Because I do shallow once in a while but i just waste my shavings. Deep method doesn't stink as bad and saves you money on shavings.

 

[Keara]

Now I live in the country so I can only speak in a limited way to this.... but here goes.

I've noticed the worst smell comes from wet feed, not so much the poop. If you can keep food waste/spillage to a minimum it should help with the smell. Though if the smell you speak of is ammonia based (i.e. chicken poop) than I would try lime.

 

[sheilawagner]

Sorry everyone, but I'm pretty new to keeping chickens.

What does shallow or deep litter mean?

And by lime, do you mean sprinkling lime powder on the floor of the runs?

Thanks.

 

[oldchickenlady]

Are you talking about the coop or the run...or both? In the coop using the 'deep litter method' means putting shavings down several inches deep (like 4-6 maybe). You can throw some scratch feed in it every couple of days and let the hens scratch around in it (mixes up the shavings) or you can mix it yourself with a rake or something. I would throw a few handfuls of Stall Dry or Sweet PDZ over it also (products made to keep ammonia smells and dampness down in horse stalls) or DE (diatomaceous earth) for prevention of mites. There are instructions here on the website that explain it better than I can, anyway, you shouldn't have to clean out the shavings but maybe a couple of times a year, or less, depends on how big your coop is, how many chickens, if you have a poop board, etc. For the run, you can rake out the poo every few days (again depends on how many chickens you have) but drainage in the run is very important. If it stays damp, it is gonna stink. Again, you can sprinkle the Stall Dry or Sweet PDZ (available at farm stores, TSC, farmers co-op). It doesn't take much, just sprinkle around to neutralize odors and help absorb wet. What is on the bottom of your run? Don't throw hay down, because it gets wet, stays wet, then stinks and is hard to get up.

 

[Kevin D.]

Thanks Everyone!

OK, My coop is really only an arch, so it is like a triangle. It will hold my 4 hens ( 3 LARGE brown layers, more like jersey giants... and 1 red sex-link layer.) I change the coop very couple days, but the run is really only packed dirt ( and poop) so I do not have the capability of hoseing it down.

And it is true that it really only smells when it is wet.

Kevin

 

[crj]

Can you take a picture of your setup? We may be able to help you better if we can see what you have.

 

[Opa]

Get some DE diatomeaceous earth and sprinkle in run and inside coop. It kills insects like lice, mites and fleas, and also will help eliminate odor.

 

[kichohana]

My girls coop has deep litter - about 4-6 inches of pine shavings. The girls have been in there for 3 months and I have not had to clean it yet. Their run has about 5-6 inches of sand. It's great - it works like a giant litter box. The girls love to "dust bathe" in the sand and dig around it. I have a small garden rake and a large kitty litter scoop i keep it cleaned up with. About once a week i sprinkle some DE in there to keep it fresh. It only smells on the hottest humid days - otherwise you can be right in there with them and smell nothing.

 

[HudsonValleyGirl]

My run for my 6 girls is just dirt. If I know it is going to rain, I put some shavings down. Every morning before I go to work I rake out their attached run, pick out their poop from their coop and I rake out their chicken yard. Doing this daily keeps the flies and smell at bay. I also sprinkle DE Down. Expecially in areas of poopage.