Cleaning the Meatie pen.

[growinupinfl]

BALAH these have got to be the STINKEST chickens on the flipping planet.

. I bought 25 cornish crosses, and 25 freedom rangers, they are about a month old and in a pen that is about 20 feet by 10 feet. They are just foul fowl. Has anyone ever figured out how to keep the smell down or do something. I clean it, and within a few days, nasty... Let me know if anyone has any ideas.

Christal

 

[miss_thenorth]

Well, you could get thema bigger area. I freerange my meaties in an electric netting that I got from Premier One http://www.premier1supplies.com/poultry/species.php. What you have is clearly not enough room for meaties. And 50 at one time is alot, even in my netting.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

BAHAHAHAHA I have 88!
put them in a tractor and move them at least once a day.

 

[growinupinfl]

Oh, they are not piled up on each other, They have a bunch of space to move around that they do not use. I have stuff to expand the area but they all insist on sitting in one area and pooing. I moved their food to the other side of the pen hoping to create movement amongst them.

Hubby informed me it is actually bigger than that, it is about 15 x 30. That is about 450 sq. Feet, which is much more than the recommended 100 sq. feet or 2sq per a bird.


http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/2902/2902-1083/2902-1083.pdf

If you feel my area is too small could you please tell me what square footage you would recommend?

Christal

 

[anthonyjames]

Split the pen in to two or three. Make each section so that the birds have about 1.5 sqft per bird. Then when one section needs to be cleaned move food and water over to the next section. Toss in pine shaving mix and go. You have more then enough room. 450 sqft for 50 birds

Plus since you are in FL you should try to get them out side to move daily and that will keep the smell way down. If you need to keep them in then I would recommend the above.

 

[PotterWatch]

I think tractoring is the best way to go with these birds. It makes certain that they can't just sit in one place all the time and poop. I'm not sure what can be done to manage things other than to move their food and water every day or two to make them move around more.

 

[Salt and Light]

My free range on 5 acres and they still make a mess at night when they roost. If you can't free range 'em or move 'em, I think you are stuck with a mess.

 

[growinupinfl]

Thank you, to everyone who has told me they have enough room. I have tried very hard to give them a healthy amount of space. I live on one acre in the Suburbs, so I can't give them unlimited room.

They have been outside for a few weeks now with a heat lamp in one corner in a shelter. I did build the pen in the shade so on those really hot days they will not over heat in the sun. It is just the pen starts to smell when the wind blows just right! I did have them in the garage and by two weeks old, the smell was invading the house.

Thank you for the advice.

Christal

 

[AmIafarmeryet]

Meat birds are massive poop producing machines, anything that eats that much is going to produce a lot of stink. I couldnt wait till slaughter day came around, they are bred to make grain into meat, other than that they dont have a whole lot going for them. You could try layering shavings or shoveling everyother day to try and get rid of the odor.

Jeff

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

Anything that helps keep their area drier will help wtih smell. Make sure their water source is not leaking or being spilled or splashed by them, or getting onto their feathers so they get the bedding wet. Adding Dolmite lime to their bedding helps lots too, keeps it drier and alters the pH so that is less stinky, and if your composting it for the garden it composts better too. But they are big poopers and they will smell since they just do more. Ventilation and more often cleaning up is the real trick.