Do Rooster Chicks Smell?

[NJClucker]

Hi everyone I am wondering do male chicks smell? My first batch of chicks I had two girls from Myers Hatchery (barred rock + white leghorn) who never smelled ever. We could go a week without cleaning their bin. Now my wife got 3 more chicks from a local breeder and the smell from their cage is horrible and very strong. I am pretty sure one of them is a roo (Buff Orpington) who always makes a friggin mess of the cage, knocks over the water and gets the whole place wet.

I haven't changed anything in the way I have cared for these chicks from the first batch which didn't smell to this second batch which reek. I find it strange these chicks have such a horrible smell to the point where I have to clean the pen everyday. They do not seem to be sick so I am guessing it's their poop but I haven't changed food from the first batch.

Any suggestions or info to eliminate or at least reduce the smell would be greatly appreciated. Here is some pictures of who I think the smelly bugger is the Buff Roo. At least I think he is a roo but I am no expert. We have named him Rupert.

 

[GitaBooks]

I find that all chickens smell.

But I love them anyways.


I don't find roosters smell any different from hens. However, faster growing breeds, the humidity of the cage, ect may effect the smell. You could try expanding the size or providing deeper bedding (deep litter system) to try to decrease the smell.


He's a handsome dude.

 

[Elbs]

Mine are nearing 4 weeks and only starts smelling now. Before I could go a week without changing the litter, now I need to about every 3 days.

If male birds do have a different odour (to be more appealing to the opposite sex or what not), I don't think it would become apparent until they're older.

 

[CrazyTalk]

It's the water being knocked over and wetting the bedding that smells.

Fix your water situation so the bird can't knock it over.

 

[Ridgerunner]

When you have a smell it’s mainly because of “wet”. It could be that poop is building up so thick that it doesn’t dry out, your ventilation could be so bad it can’t dry out or, like it sure sounds like in your case, you have an outside source of water, that waterer. Handle your wet problem and the smell should go away.

 

[junebuggena]

Also, your first batch were Leghorn/Rock crosses, which would be a lighter/smaller overall bird than an Orpington. The bigger the bird, the faster they will outgrow your brooder setup.

 

[Casper101Popcor]

It might be the water, becuase hat's what happened to me. Make sure he can't knock over the water.