Coop starting to smell. Dbm

[mgharris30]

Current residents:
Barred rock hen
Buff Orpington hen
Appenzeller spitzhoppen hen
2 sea bright laying pullets
2 EE laying pullets
2 EE not laying pullets
EE Roo trying to crow
Red Pyle OEGB roo, crowing
Very tiny laying pullet, smaller than seabrights
Red sex link laying pullet
RIR laying pullet
2 lavender orps, laying pullets
2 black copper marans, not laying pullets
Welsummer pullet- not sure if laying but don’t think so
Silver laced wydonette pullet- not laying.
Coop is 3 sided, door is wire mesh on wood frame. Standard box fan hole w/ fan on another side. Pop door is always open to run. We do not free range.
Run is 18X18. Net for cover. Lots of shade cloth. So far, everyone gets along. Using DLM for run and DBM for coop. (The coop is a converted shed with pavers. I think I might can pull them up)
During the summer, with some work, we made the whole thing as comfortable as possible for an East Texas summer.
We had a cold snap. Covered the door and fan opening with plastic.
NOW, we have a smell when I get low to gather eggs from my ground layers. (Whole other post)
We took down the plastic. I took out all the bedding and moved it into the run. Added fresh pine shaving from TS along with stall fresh and lime.
After a few days, the smell came back. We found a leak in the roof, fixed that. We cut 2 more feet of ventilation at the top. I’m about to clean it out again. Any suggestions?
I signed up for local pine, but it’s not available yet. Thinking about Ammo- sorb from Chewy. Any other suggestions?

 

[STACEYH]

You say you cut more ventilation, I can't see any at all. You will get odors if it isn't vented enough.

 

[mgharris30]

You say you cut more ventilation, I can't see any at all. You will get odors if it isn't vented enough.

I will post a photo of the other side. Maybe a video would work better??

 

[3KillerBs]

There are several factors that tend to contribute to odor problems:

1. Overcrowding. The recommended minimums are 4 square feet per hen in the coop and 10 square feet in the run.

2. Poor ventilation. The recommended minimum is 1 square foot per hen -- best located at the top of the coop because heat and ammonia both rise.

3. Moisture. Sometimes this is a drainage problem, sometimes this is a ventilation problem, sometimes this is due to not having enough dry organic material as bedding to dehydrate the poop before it starts to rot.

Odor can be do to any one of these factors, a combination of factors, or a few other less common issues.

 

[STACEYH]

The side that is all open is it sheltered from the weather or is it allowed to rain inside? If weather can get in I'm sure that is part of your problem.

 

[mgharris30]

You say you cut more ventilation, I can't see any at all. You will get odors if it isn't vented enough.

The side that is all open is it sheltered from the weather or is it allowed to rain inside? If weather can get in I'm sure that is part of your problem.

Rain gets in maybe a foot. The smell is toward the back.
How could I fix that without loosing the venting?

 

[STACEYH]

I would cover the bottom and add an awning to the top.

 

[Brooks_]

The smell is toward the back.

That part looks to be unventilated, for all intents and purposes. Could you cut out part of that back/side wall?

 

[3KillerBs]

Rain gets in maybe a foot. The smell is toward the back.

Is the bedding there wet or dry?

Is there a means for warm, moist, ammonia-laden air to escape at the top of the coop?

How much bedding do you have in there? What is your cleaning routine?

How many square feet do you have per chicken?

 

[mgharris30]

That part looks to be unventilated, for all intents and purposes. Could you cut out part of that back/side wall?

We have discussed expanding both the coop and run in the spring. I think I could start the cutting now and cover with hardwire cloth.