coop smells poopy in the morning

[Pats Poultry]

Every morning when I let the chicks out I inspect the coop to see if they are still using the roost. They have only been on the roost for 5 nights now. When I open the big door the coop smells really poopy. I thought I had enough ventilation but now I am not sure. I have a vent in the front of the coop (pic 1) and one in the back of the coop that I have blocked off(pic 2) plus two vents in the gables on both sides(pick 3) The vent in the back is about 20' or so above were they roost. I thought it might be to breezy on them in the temps that we have been having lately, single digits to low teens. It is a 4X4X4 coop not including the rafters. Should I uncover the back vent. And OBTW, A poop board is the only way to go.




And these are the poopy culprits

 

[RPClark]

I vote for uncovering that vent, poopy smell or not. I think keeping air moving and moisture venting out from the coop is important for the health of the birds in cold weather.

We had snow yesterday; the way the wind blows around here, the fenced and covered run is also snow-covered. Our birds really don't like walking on the snow, so they stay in. As a result, the poop builds up more quickly when the chicks are "coop-bound."

I won't get too excited about poopy smell unless ammonia smell starts to come up as well. If it does, then I'll clean the coop sooner than I would otherwise.

 

[aart]

Pic of inside coop would help.
How many birds?

But I'd definitely open up that gable vent under the run roof...
.....and probably the eave vents, but might need baffles inside depending on roost location.

 

[Pats Poultry]

Hi aart,
Here is a pic of the inside of our coop. The vent in question is about 2ft above the roost and poop board. All other vents are open. I did open it last night as the temps were only going to get down into the low thirties but winter is not over yet here in Colorado. We only have three 11 week old chicks

 

[aart]

Hi aart,
Here is a pic of the inside of our coop. The vent in question is about 2ft above the roost and poop board. All other vents are open. I did open it last night as the temps were only going to get down into the low thirties but winter is not over yet here in Colorado. We only have three 11 week old chicks

Is that the vent over the nests...... or the one under the run roof?
I'm guessing the one over the nests...so did opening it up help as of this morning?

Do you clean that poop board every day?
With just 3 chicks and their tiny poops...what you may be smelling is just freshly dropped poops and/or cecal poops which really stink.
It's hard to say if you really have a problem or not.
Even with good ventilation it's not like you're never going to smell poop ever at all.
When it's humid, even in winter, it smells more.

If wind comes in that vent over the nests, I would suggest putting that piece of cardboard on the inside as a baffle.
Only attach it at the bottom with a few screws/washers screws and wedging something in to keep it open a couple inches at the top.
That will increase your ventilation but still block any wind from swooping down onto the roost area.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

More ventilation, dry woodchips to cover poop daily.

IDK, my chicks coming in April...


Must. Finish. Coop

Gary from Idyllwild Ca here

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

I use something called Koop Clean.Sounds like Coop Clean but it's spelt with a K.It works like a miricale!Good luck!

 

[Pats Poultry]

Opening the vent did help this morning but I am guessing what you have said about the fresh poop to be the problem. I do clean the board every morning right after I let them out. Good advice about the cardboard over the vent attached only at the bottom. I do believe that will solve what I thought was a problem. Love this sight and the poop board, Thank you all for the replies