Do Chickens stink?

[esmith]

If I built a small coop, say 5x2 feet or so would that be enough room for 2 hens and would these two hens smell at all? They would be allowed out of the coop daily to roam and eat and whatnot. Can I still expect a "fowl" odor? (HAHAHAHAHAHAHA)

Thanks!

 

[Kanchii]

They wont stink as long as you keep their area clean!

 

[Vamp-A-Billy Princess]

I HAVE 24 LIVING IN MY BEDROOM! The only 1 w/ a stink is BoBo my cornish x. Thats just cause he's to obese to clean himself properly. I gave him a bath las night and now he smells like baby shampoo!

I'm just gonna have to do it once a week. Otherwise we dont have any smell problems. They r very clean and bathe themselves.

 

[tvtaber]

The coop can start to stink like ammonia if it is not cleaned aften enough. the poo piles up under the roosts because they digest and poop all night long. If you keep that cleaned out there is no smell. The actual birds have a mild bird smell, but you only smell them when you are holding them enjoying their birdness!

There are as many different techniques for keeping the coop clean as there are hen keepers. I put pine shavings in the coop and stir the pile under the roost avery day or two. When it gets icky, I throw some more shavings in until it is too big a pile or gets any odor at all, then I shovel the whole pile into the compost pile and put new shavings in. This is about every three weeks, because I want the compost and like the coop to be fresh. Since the mess is mostly still wood shavings it is lightweight; moving it around is no big deal.

The size of the coop should be larger than your current plans, because you WILL end up with more chickens than you ever thought you'd need!

 

[NoelTate]

The only time my coop stinks is after a rain. As long as I keep it clean and some type of litter on it, the smell usually does not get bad. My Grandmother used to spread lime in her coop to keep away flies and to keep it from stinking, but I couldn't really tell you if it worked or not, it's just something she told me she did.

 

[esmith]

so with 2 birds and minimum maintenance the smell wont be noticeable?

 

[chickflick]

Chickens don't stink....but their poop sure does!!
Keep their coop cleaned out and there won't be a problem. Plenty of pine shavings to absorb odors. I clean up under the roosts alot to keep the stink down.

 

[Mrs MIA]

Plenty of pine shavings, and stir them with a rake every couple of days - it will keep the odor down. I sprinkle a little lime in the dropping pit to keep the ammonia at bay, too, but nothing beats a good cleaning.

I think (clean) chickens smell good. I love their smell.

Especially soft, fuzzy silkies.

 

[esmith]

I have heard of some people putting in a koi pond under their coops. apparently the bird droppings fertilize the pond vegetation which is eaten by the koi.

Anyone here tried that?